Publications

Mapping Sri Lanka’s Political Parties

The original version of this report was commissioned by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to assist in its work in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan parliament and political parties. The opinions expressed and contents of this report are not necessarily those held by Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The report was prepared by the politics research practice at Verité Research with Charudaththa Ekanayake functioning as principal researcher under the overall editorial supervision of Janeen Fernando.

Sri Lanka’s Export Problem – Not Concentration, but Composition

Sri Lanka’s exports are heavily concentrated on a few markets and a few products. The government’s recognition of export diversification as an important policy strategy to revive exports, indicates that both market and product concentration are seen as critical bottlenecks in this regard. This report compares and contrasts Sri Lanka’s export product and market concentration and its export composition against that of the world and selected Asian economies. The objective of this brief analysis is to understand where Sri Lanka stands in the world and in comparison to its neighbours that have performed well in terms of export concentration and composition.

The new Ministers of Finance: Will their budget keep its promises?

Analysis of past budgets reveal large deviations between budgeted allocations and actual expenditure. This shows that expectations set by the government during the budget speech are not honoured. This Insight analyses budgeting on social services and the rural economy to demonstrate the extent of deviations in promised allocations and actual expenditure. Results suggest that when precise expenditure is not tangible, it is easier to renege on budget promises.

A Legal & Institutional Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Justice System for Children

Criminal justice institutions re-victimise children. This report details the legal and institutional challenges impeding justice for children in Sri Lanka. The report also details specific recommendations to divert children away from the justice system, and prevent institutionalisation being a matter of first resort.

Right to Information: Discourse and Compliance in Sri Lanka

The report Right to Information: Discourse and Compliance in Sri Lanka was compiled in collaboration between Verité Research and Democracy Reporting International (DRI). Verité Research analysed the right to information in the Sri Lankan context while Democracy Reporting International detailed international best practices relating to proactive disclosure. The study examines the drafting of Sri Lanka’s RTI Act and existing laws that are inconsistent with its provisions. It recommends strategies to strengthen proactive disclosure of information, and to amend laws inconsistent with the RTI Act.

Does the Disqualification of Candidates Invalidate Nomination Papers?

The recent Court of Appeal judgement on SLFP MP Geetha Kumarasinghe’s disqualification from Parliament due to her dual citizenship has sparked a debate on whether the disqualification of candidates invalidates nomination papers. This briefing note discusses this issue and argues that nomination papers cannot be invalidated on the basis that a candidate is disqualified from being elected to parliament.

The Sri Lankan economy needs a better bureaucracy, not just a better Cabinet of Ministers

There are several causes to the problems facing Sri Lanka’s economy. The problem of bureaucratic inefficiency exemplified by this case study: finding information about trade regulations is a significant barrier to improving the economy in agricultural products. The poor performance in the supply of even basic information indicates the larger challenge of improving the bureaucracy.

Sri Lanka: Resolution 30/1 Implementation Monitor – Statistical and Analytical Review No. 2

This briefing note is Verité Research’s latest study on the Sri Lankan government’s commitments on reconciliation and accountability. It assesses progress in the fulfillment of 36 commitments made in UNHRC Resolution 30/1, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka in September 2015.

The Limits of the Presidential Portfolio and its Implications for the Office on Missing Persons

This brief, published by our legal team, analyses the limitations on the powers of the Executive President to assign subjects and functions to Ministers under the 19th Amendment (19A) to the Constitution. In particular, this paper argues that the Constitution and the 19th Amendment prohibit the President from assigning the subject of the Office on Missing Persons Act (OMP) to himself, and consequently from appointing the date on which the provisions of the OMP Act comes into operation.

Fixing Sri Lanka’s Revenue Problem is a Priority

Taxes are the key source of government revenue. Normally, tax share as a percentage of GDP is expected to increase as per capita GDP rises. This Insight shows that in Sri Lanka, this is not the case; the country’s per capita GDP has been rising but the tax to GDP ratio has been falling. Sri Lanka needs to improve its tax revenue to ensure that the government has enough money to spend towards welfare and growth while not running the risks of high budget deficits and debt levels. The example of Georgia in the last decade points to a significant opportunity to reverse this puzzling and strangling trend.