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Item Sri Lanka(SAGE Publications, 2011) Arunatilake, Nisha; Jayawardena, Priyanka; Weerakoon, DushniItem Bridging skills for employment in Sri Lanka(Asian Development Bank, 2017) Jayawardena, Priyanka; Miller, RonaldItem Fertilizer use efficiency of rice farms in Sri Lanka: a slack-based dea analysis(12th International conference of DEA, 2014) Thibbotuwawa, Manoj; Mugera, Amin W.Subsidizing fertilizer has been one of the most controversial policy debates in developing country agriculture, especially in Asia. This study investigates the levels and factors affecting fertilizer use efficiency and its budgetary implications in Sri Lanka. Based on a cross-sectional data set for the years 2007 to 2010, we use a two-stage approach to examine the efficiency of fertilizer use for paddy production. The first stage uses the slack-based Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to estimate fertilizer use efficiency. Fertiliser use shows relatively lower inefficiency and dominant efficiency distribution compared to the other inputs. We find that, on average, that fertilizer use can be reduced by 13 percent without comprising yield levels. We also find a positive and significant relationship between fertilizer use efficiency and small farms, rain fed farms and quality seed. The study highlights the importance of estimating individual input use efficiencies besides the traditional technical efficiency especially under market imperfections. Our results have budgetary implications related to the subsidy scheme.Item The incidence of taxes and spending in Sri Lanka(World Bank, 2017) Arunatilake, Nisha; Inchauste, Gabriela; Lustig, NoraItem Shifting landscapes in development finance:the cautionary tale of a new debt trap(Palgrave macmillan, 2023) Weerakoon, DushniItem Data constraints in monitoring SDGs(2017) Tilakaratna, GangaItem Chemical fertillizer imports and the environment: evidence-based approach for a green economy accounting for the trade off(2021-12) Wijesinghe, AsankaThe direct and indirect impact of high-input use agriculture- popularised by the Green Revolution- on the environment is the major thrust of this perspective. The paper discusses an integrated approach to minimise the negative impacts, accounting for the proposed ban of synthetic fertilizers and the tradeoff between the environment and productivity resulting from such a ban. Noteworthy stylised facts of the discussion are threefold. First, the Green Revolution reduced the growth of extensive expansion of agricultural lands via intensification, which subdued the pressure on forest cover. Additionally, productivity increase releases marginal lands for vital ecological services such as pollinator habitats. Second, synthetic fertilizer resulted in higher productivity in the agriculture sector, increasing the GDP and facilitating structural transformation. Given that a quarter of the workforce is in the agriculture sector, gradual movement of the labor force to the industrial sector is vital, while the agriculture sector workforce become self-reliant in facing environmental and climatic events. Thus, continuous investment in agricultural productivity growth should be a priority to create fiscal space for the investments in meaningful green initiatives and reduce the vulnerability of the rural poor. Third, evidence-based solutions such as site-specific fertilizer recommendations, soil testing, and discouraging overuse of nitrogenous fertilizer through tariffs should be practiced to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of synthetic fertilizer, especially nitrogen fertilizer. Complete removal of the subsidy may generate overreaching welfare and environmental ramifications, although it is widely suggested.Item Economics of Managing Invasive Alien Species in Sri Lanka(Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, 2010) Wickramasinghe, Kanchana; Senaratne, AthulaThis paper examines certain aspects related to the economics of managing Invasive Alien Species (IAS) focusing on the context in Sri Lanka. In this exercise we attempted to assess economic benefits/costs of managing IAS using the total economic value framework, and to review suitable criteria and guidelines that should be used in selection of policies for managing IAS.Item Sri Lanka Country Investment Study(Asian Development Bank, 2009) Weerakoon, Dushni; Thennakoon, JayanthiThis study reports on an initial exploration of issues related to the investment climate for FDI, and documenting the nature and role of FDI in the Sri Lankan economy. The study also examines the potential for intra-South Asian trade and investment flows, and presents an analysis of emerging trends in trade and investment linkages within South Asia with a focus on the textile and clothing (T&C) and automobile sectors.Item Youth Mobility and Overseas Migration in Sri Lanka(World Bank, 2010) Abeyasekera, AshaThis study investigates youth mobility and migration in the overall context of Sri Lanka’s international labor migratory patterns and trends for the specific purpose of exploring employment opportunities for youth. Its main focus is on the availability of productive overseas employment opportunities for youth. The chapter attempts to identify key characteristics of Sri Lankan migrants , the trends and patterns associated with migration from the country , and the impact of migration on individuals . It discusses policies that affect migration and provides recommendations based on key findings . For its data, the chapter relies primarily on a desk review of available literature on migration complemented by interviews with key informants.Item Explaining Labor Market Imbalance in Sri Lanka: Evidence from Jobsnet Data(World Bank, 2010) Arunatilake, Nisha; Jayawardena, PriyankaHigh unemployment among youth, mainly resulting from prolonged job search, has been of concern to policy makers in Sri Lanka for close to four decades . Numerous studies have explored the reasons for youth unemployment in the country and have offered several hypotheses that focus on job search behavior of individuals and hiring practices of employers . Many of these studies rely on household data sets , which collect information only from employers on availability of vacancies and their nature. We take advantage of newly available Jobsnet data, containing detailed information on job seekers and job vacancies , to test the validity of some of the existing explanations regarding unemployment in the country . Jobsnet data come from the information source of a web-based interface that facilitates job placement. Capitalizing on information available from both the demand and supply sides of the labor market, the study examines the excesses and shortages in Sri Lanka’s labor supply . This study also evaluates the usefulness of Jobsnet as a source of labor market information.Item Labor Market Trends and Outcomes in Sri Lanka(World Bank, 2010) Arunatilake, Nisha; Jayawardena, PriyankaThe Sri Lankan labor market is currently experiencing several changes that affect youth employment in the country . First, the country has one of the fastest-aging populations in the world—the youth share of the population in the country is declining, while the adult share is rising. As a result, the labor force has aged and its rate of growth has declined. If current participation rates remain constant, the Sri Lankan labor force is expected to begin to shrink around. How are these changes affecting the labor market? Is Sri Lanka making optimum use of its diminishing labor resources? Second, Sri Lanka has grappled with the problem of high unemployment rates among youth over several decades (Rama 1999). In recent times overall unemployment rates in the country have come down steadily . Has that decline led to a corresponding improvement in youth employment prospects? Finally , globalization and technological change have fueled the demand for better -skilled workers in information technology (IT) and IT -enabled services both internationally and domestically . At the same time, demand for skilled migrant workers is growing globally (Lewin and Caillods 2001). To take advantage of these emerging opportunities , the country needs to have a skilled, globally competitive workforce . Is the education sector in the country preparing young workers to meet the skill demands of these emerging labor markets? To find answers to these questions , this chapter examines the trends in labor market indicators over time for Sri Lanka, with international comparisons , where appropriate . It begins with a description of the major data sources and definitions used in the study . It then looks at trends in the size of the labor force , employment, unemployment, and earnings distribution before offering some concluding thoughts.