Two books on Sri Lankan economy

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) and the Economics and Statistics Department of the University of Peradeniya will launch two Volumes on Economic and Social Development under a Market Economy Regime edited by Executive Director of the IPS Dr Saman Kelegama and Senior lecturer of the University of Peradeniya Dr Dileni Gunawardena at the Peradeniya University on April 3.

The Volumes are in honour of former Professor of Economics at the University of Peradeniya and former Board Member and chairman of the IPS Buddhadasa Hewavitharana.

The Festschrift that runs into two Volumes is a critical examination of the impact of the market economy regime on the economic and social development of Sri Lanka.

The 44 chapters in the two Volumes delve into many aspects of how the market economy regime that was introduced in 1977 impacted on various aspects of the economy such as economic growth, money and public finance, factor markets, the production sectors and on society.

Professor Sirimal Abeyratne, Head of the Department of Economics, University of Colombo, W.A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, former Director-General of Economic Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat, UK and Professor J.B. Dissanayake, former Professor of Sinhala, University of Peradeniya will review selected chapters of the two Volumes.

Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr Sarath Amunugama will be the chief guest.

Former Minister of Higher Education Prof. Wiswa Warnapala will offer some insights on his association with Professor Hewavitharana.