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Tuesday, November 25, 2025

The Paradox of Stability: Critically Analyzing the IMF's Impact on Sri Lanka's Poor

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program in Sri Lanka, initiated in the wake of the nation’s unprecedented economic collapse, is a necessary, yet deeply contentious, intervention. Its stated goals—to restore macroeconomic stability, ensure debt sustainability, and mitigate the economic impact on the poor—are clear. However, the critical question remains: Is the IMF policy, in its current implementation, truly making the poor happy in Sri Lanka? A rigorous analysis, informed by the latest data and the lived experience of the most vulnerable, suggests a complex paradox where macroeconomic stabilization has been achieved at a significant, and perhaps unsustainable, social cost. 

As a development economist with experience navigating the complexities of government policy and international financial institutions, I recognize the imperative of fiscal discipline. Yet, I must also contend with the ethical and developmental mandate that any economic recovery must be equitable. The evidence, particularly the persistent and elevated poverty statistics, compels a critical examination of the policy mix, especially the sequencing and distributional effects of the IMF-mandated reforms.

Friday, November 21, 2025

A Critical Analysis of Structural Barriers to Women's Economic Empowerment in Sri Lanka

The recent repeal of legislation in July 2025 that barred women from working night shifts in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry was heralded by some as a significant step towards gender parity and economic liberalization. However, from the perspective of a development economist with experience in policy-level government positions and international organizations, this singular action risks being a tokenistic gesture unless it is accompanied by a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to dismantle the deep-seated legal, structural, and gendered restrictions that continue to suppress female labour force participation (FLFP) in the nation. The challenge in Sri Lanka is not merely about night work; it is a complex interplay of demand-side legal constraints and pervasive supply-side social barriers that collectively limit women's agency and their contribution to the formal economy.