Centre for a Smart Future is pleased to launch 'Looking Back, Building Forward' A Collection of Essays on Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis and Emerging Priorities. The purpose of this publication - a collection of essays of our writing since 2022 - is twofold. Firstly, to serve as a reminder of some of the key contributing aspects of the crisis, as well as the impacts faced by vulnerable communities. With a desire to quickly ‘move on’ and celebrate recovery, these aspects have been forgotten. Secondly, to serve as reference points to inform and influence a more just, inclusive, and sustainable economic recovery, which is our idea of a ‘smart future’.

While national security considerations when developing foreign investment regulation isn’t new, it is becoming a greater consideration when assessing investment into sectors and companies that play a critical function to society or are of strategic importance to a country. A recently published Discussion Paper by CSF serves to introduce this emerging area to Sri Lankan trade and investment stakeholders, provide some country examples, and to inform further deliberation on the topic.

This Working Paper reviews bilateral trade performance, explains some of the key domestic economic policy contexts during and after the FTA was signed, discusses some of the key issues that emerged, and takes an initial look at prospects.

In this interview with finance and investment specialist Sharini Kulasinghe, we explore some new perspectives on solving SME development challenges (especially SME access to finance), going beyond the conventional wisdom.