Sri Lanka is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), obligated to progressively realise rights such as adequate food, housing, health, education, and social security. Despite clear obligations, Sri Lanka’s track record shows a persistent gap between formal commitments and reality.

Hostile architecture  is unpleasant or exclusionary architecture or defensive urban design, that uses elements of the built environment to guide or restrict behaviour, particularly intending to stop people from doing something. We map Colombo's public spaces that have hostile infrastructure and do a deep dive on the topic.

A new report by CSF explores multiple dimensions of platform-based gig work in Sri Lanka, drawing on primary research since 2023 and building on previous research conducted in 2022. The report titled, 'Flexibility and Fairness in Platform Labour: Navigating Gig Work in Colombo' delves into issues not explored in the Sri Lankan context before, and provides fresh insights relevant for platform companies, worker rights organisations, international development agencies, and government institutions.

The pervasive and unpredictable nature of the ongoing trade policy developments, and the many dimensions of impacts that the resulting uncertainty causes, are important considerations for further exploration in Sri Lanka. In this new Policy Brief by CSF, we take an early look at the effects of trade policy uncertainty on Sri Lankan export-oriented firms, based on an executive opinion survey and key informant interviews.

A new CSF Policy Brief argues that private-public collaboration platforms in tourism must include members who can provide a more holistic and contemporary perspective of the industry. Plans for a new Act provide a good opportunity to rethink private sector representation in tourism bodies.

Global trade tensions are causing uncertainty for Sri Lankan businesses. Exporters are grappling with not only the likelihood of higher taxes, but perhaps more crucially, the uncertainties around them. CSF is studying the effects of trade policy uncertainty on export-oriented businesses in Sri Lanka (with a focus on US tariff changes), and are conducting this brief survey to understand how business are navigating and coping with the changes. Findings from the research will also help businesses, trade chambers, and the government, understand the impacts better, and inform public-private dialogue around solutions.