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Inauguration - Centre for Economic Research and Industrial Policy Analysis (CERIPA)

The inaugural meeting of the board of management has been successfully held on 24th February 2012 at the VC Office, University of Colombo.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the Centre is to develop and strengthen the relationship between university-industry and community resulting in mutually beneficial partnership. It aims to establish a crucial link between theory and practice in the field of economics including business and finance with special focus on applied research backed by sound theoretical underpinnings. The activities of the Centre are mainly in the fields of research, training and consultation work.

The Centre is  established and located in the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.  The Centre is governed by a Board of Management.  The Centre accepts donations and grants from organizations and private individuals. It also earns income from business and economic research, consultancy, and training programs.

The Centre shall strive to achieve the following specific objectives:
 

  • To establish and maintain university-industry-community interaction links.
  • To undertake research studies and training on innovation, economic and social issues.
  • To encourage and promote undergraduate-students to conduct research and case studies in the wider areas of economics and business.
  • To generate resources in the forms of industry supported projects and consultancy programs.
  • To provide management consultancy and advisory services to entrepreneurs, government and community.
  • To initiate forums which facilitate networking and linkages among business companies, government and non-government institutions.
  • To facilitate and promote dialogue between Sri Lanka, nations of South Asia and the rest of the world.
  • To promote entrepreneurial studies and entrepreneurial culture in the university.

 
FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES

  • The Center intends to offer the following services:
  • Form and maintain university-industry-community interaction links.
  • Organize conferences and seminars of relevance to economics and business.
  • Conduct a series of lectures about the related issues.
  • Conduct industry oriented specialized skill development programmes in economcis and in any other related fields.
  • Publish a standard journal annually and a working paper series.
  • Conduct awareness programs on new technology, E-business etc. for companies and community.
  • Conduct research and educational activity designed to improved understanding of economic action, processes, relationships and outcomes.
  • Prepare feasibility studies and provide consultancy and research services for NGOs and other institutions.
  • Play a role of an intermediary to support economic development.
  • Provide internship programme offered to undergraduate students by coordinating with partner organizations.
  • International exchange programs for researchers, analysts, students, faculty, entrepreneurs and field personnel.
  • Information dissemination

 

Inaugural Meeting of the Inter-University Departments of Economics, 2012

The Inaugural meeting of the Inter-University Departments of Economics was held on the 25th of February, 2012 at College House, University of Colombo. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo and the discussion session was presided over by Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Head of the Department of Economics. Heads of Economics Departments, or their representatives, from 10 national universities attended the meeting.
Currently, despite academic economists being involved in a number if research projects and policy analyses, there is no mechanism by which the sharing of knowledge, experiences and research findings among these persons can be facilitated. As such, the agenda of the meeting was to decide upon the establishment of a forum for university economists and prepare a plan of action for this forum, which will provide opportunities for formal collaboration in the future.
While the forum will be invaluable in terms of resource sharing, building of research capabilities, and curriculum development, the first major event of the forum is to be an economics research symposium for the national universities of Sri Lanka, enabling both academics and undergraduates to showcase their skills. This will also be a means of promoting the recognition of academic economists among academia, policy makers, industrialists and the general public. The conference, which is to be an annual event, will be hosted this year by the Economics Department of the University of Colombo.
 

Internship Programme - 2012

The Department of Economics is proud to announce that it pioneered the launching of an internship programme for undergraduate students. Since 2004, the department provides work experience placements in partnership with leading private sector, public sector, and semi-government institutions for students in the Economics Special Degree programme in their fourth year. This internship programme gives students an opportunity to gain work experience in bridging the gap between academic and working environments.
A list of our Industry Partners will be published soon...

Lecture of Prof. Howard Nicholas

Dr. Howard Nicholas of the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, delivered a lecture at the Department of Economics on the 23rd of January, 2012. Dr Nicholas, who worked at the University of Colombo as resident coordinator of the UC-ISS project came to Sri Lanka for the launch of his new book “Marx’s Theory of Price & Its Modern Rivals”,  spoke on the “Marx’s Theory of Price and its Modern Rivals”. His presentation condemned classical economics as being unrealistic and as being used as a tool by Western powers to maintain control over the developing countries. As opposed to the orthodox views that either financial sector or government irresponsibility caused the global recession, Dr Nicholas cited the global shift of economic power from the West to the East and the existence of business cycles as the main causes of the crisis.
The outspoken speech by Dr Nicholas, whose views are widely respected among academic as well as business circles, was greatly appreciated by the audience who were left with plenty of food for thought at the end of the presentation.
 

More: 
application/pdf iconSlides-Prof.Nicholas.pdf

Arrival of Prof. Muhammad Yunus

Prof. Muhammad Yunus visited the University of Colombo on 9th December 2011. On his visit, Prof. Yunus delivered a speech on Gramin bank concept, its history and the implementation of the concept.
Among the many things that Prof. Yunus described in his presentation, the most fascinating idea was the concept of Social Business. Deviating from self interest motive of capitalism, Prof. Yunus described how the capitalist system can be used to serve society to reduce poverty.
Prof. Yunus visit to the University of Colombo, on the invitation of the Department of Economics to share his new ideas, was greatly appreciated by all those present who were happy to hear the views of such a trend setter in Economics and Social Service.

First Postgraduate Symposium was a success

The Department of Economics successfully hosted its first Postgraduate Symposium on the 17th of December 2011. The symposium provided the postgraduate students of the Department of Economics with an opportunity to showcase their skills in the practical application of economics, allowing them to present their research papers to a forum of students and academics. The keynote address, titled "Research in Economics: Challenges and Opportunities", was delivered by Dr Harsha Aturupane, Senior Economist at the World Bank Office in Sri Lanka. This is the first such forum organised by the Department of Economics and it is hoped to make it an annual event.

More: 
application/pdf iconAgenda_PG Sym.pdf

SAESM 2011 held in Delhi recently

October 28, 2011 - twelve students and two staff members left Colombo for New Delhi with great expectations and bubbling enthusiasm, for the 11th South Asian Economic Students’ Meet (SAESM).
SAESM is a much looked forward event by students in South Asia studying economics in their undergraduate years. For 11 consecutive years it has proved to be a platform for undergraduates to show and experience the knowledge and talents of fellow South Asian students in the area of economics.  Typically the entire programme consists of an economics conference and a retreat that follows.
Like all other time SAESM 2011 also consisted of the Budding Economist competition for which Samuditha Samaratunga, Nipuni Perera, Thilini Samarasekara from Colombo University and Navoda Edirisinghe from University of Peradeniya participated, paper presentations under 8 themes related to the field of economics for which 7 students participated representing University of Colombo and one from University of Peradeniya. Undergraduates who presented papers under each theme includes, Asela Ekanayake on Jobs, Labour Regulations and Labour Rights, Appropriate Technology by Nalindrani Malimage, Globalization of Production by Kumudika Balasooriya, Harshanee Jayasekera on Environment, Financing the Rural Economy by Akila Sanjeewani, Descrimination- Social identity, Gender and Ethnicity by Kaushalya Attigalle, Vasana Wijesignhe on Urbanization and Kalpa Rajapaksa from University of Peradeniya on Migration. 8 students who presented papers, namely Nalindrani Malimage, Asela Ekanayake, Kalpa Rajapaksa, Kaushalya Attigalle, Kumuduka Balasooriya and Harshanee Jayasekera participated for the Quizonomics; quiz competition on economics. Mr. Shanuka Senarath and Dr. N. Ravinthirakumaran accompanied the delegation from University of Colombo representing Sri Lanka.