International Consultant on Trade, Macroeconomics and regulation
Former Economic Adviser to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka- from November 2015 to November 2019.
Former Official Participant in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Matters Chaired by the Prime Minister. (Appointed by His Excellency the President), Committee.
Member of the Governing Board of the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka (Appointed by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka).
Founder member and Coordinator of the Peradeniya Plus Group (a discussion forum of former senior officials of Sri Lankan Government, university academics and former officials of International Economic Institutions)
Assistant Accountant, Central Bank of Sri Lanka 1965-67. Responsible for day-to-day supervision of the national commercial bank clearing house, maintenance of current accounts of commercial banks and administering reserve requirements.
Temporary Assistant Lecturer in Economics: Department of Economics, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya: Taught second year micro economics,third year applied economics and tutor for both.
Chief, Money and Banking Division, Research Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Led a team of economists, advised the senior management on monetary policy formulation, and prepared relevant parts of the monthly bulletin and the annual report of the Central Bank. Negotiated IMF Stand-by arrangements as counterpart to the leader of the IMF Mission to Sri Lanka 1974-75.
Economist, Money and Banking Division, Research Department, (Central Bank of Sri Lanka) 1967-68. Prepared research studies on commercial bank efficiency, branch distribution and wrote sections of the monthly bulletin and the Annual Report of the Central Bank.
Adviser, Senior Staff Resources Program (worked on regulatory reform and on a research study on the impact of economic liberalization on industrial structure) 1997-1998.
Economic Adviser, Operations Policy (provided policy advice on Bank-wide operations issues such as the relationship between operations policies and economic and sector work) 1995-97.
Economic Adviser, Operations Policy (provided policy advice on Bank-wide operations issues such as the relationship between operations policies and economic and sector work) 1995-97.
Chief, Trade, Industry and Finance, Technical Department, Latin America and the Caribbean Region. (Led a division of economists and financial analysts. Provided operations support and reviewed policy in these areas), 1990-93.
Chief, Policy Analysis Unit, Office of the Vice President of Research Staff. Led a unit created in the Vice Presidency to increase interaction between Bank operations and research,
Senior Economist on Indonesia (Led Economic Missions, participated in economic missions, discussed policy issues with country counterparts and wrote chapters in Bank reports on financial policy, the regulatory environment and macroeconomic developments) : Led the 1981 Economic Report Mission, the Rural Financial Markets Mission in 1982, and the Capital Markets Study Mission in 1983), 1979-83.
As Country Economist for Nepal helped to create the Aid Group for Nepal which the World Bank chaired. Prepared documents for it after consultation with heads of various departments jointly with the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Assistant Secretary of the Planning Ministry. The main document was the economic assessment of the country prospects and the aid requirements of the different sectors". Participated in the two-man mission to write the Country Economic Memorandum on Nepal wrote parts of the report. Participated in the Agricultural Sector mission and wrote the sections on the overall economy, agricultural pricing policies and internal trade between the terai and the hill regions.
Country Economist for Burma (participated in economic missions, discussed policy issues with country counterparts and wrote chapters in Bank reports on pricing policies, macroeconomic developments and trade). 1975-77
Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy (on leave from the World Bank until November 1999 and retired thereafter) 1998 to 2008. (Undertook a research study on developing countries trade policies in the 1990s and evaluated the results of selective versus general promotion of economic activities in developing country trade regimes). Led an international team looking into development issues relating to Least Developed Countries, Foreign Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa. Gave in-house seminars at the Friday forum of the Institute on these issues. 1998-2007
Director, Macroeconomic Policies of Developing Countries Study 1986-93. Led a group of thirty academics in the study, which involved eighteen countries, supervised writing of nine country volumes and co-authored the synthesis volume "Boom, Crisis and Adjustment: The Macroeconomic Experience of Developing Countries”. I.M.D Little, W. Max Corden, Richard N. Cooper and Sarath Rajapatirana, ) Oxford University Press 1993.
Member, Advisory Board (World Bank Comparative Research Project, Trade Liberalization 1983-91). Advised authors of South Asian and Latin American country studies.
Member, Editorial Board, World Bank Economic Review 1986-90. Reviewed papers and participated in publishing decisions. The Board comprised leading economists of our time, Joseph Stiglitz, T.N. Srinivasan, Asar Lindbeck, Deepak Lal, and Richard Snape.
Staff Director, Main Author and Team Leader, World Development Report on Industrialization and Foreign Trade 1986-1987. Defined the main issues to be analyzed, hired and supervised a team of trade specialists from within and outside the World Bank, wrote the main sections of the report and presented the results in international forums.
Economist, Money and Banking Division, Research Department, (Central Bank of Sri Lanka) 1967-68. Prepared research studies on commercial bank efficiency, branch distribution and wrote sections of the monthly bulletin and the Annual Report of the Central Bank.
Book Review: Trade Liberalization and Poverty in South Asia: (Eds) (Jayatilleke S.Bandara, Prema-Chandra Athukorala and Saman Kelegama., Routledge Publications, London 2011 in South Asia Journal, March, 13(1), 2012
Book Review: Foreign Aid in South Asia: The Emerging Scenario, Editor: (Saman Kelegama) ,Sage Publications, India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi 2012
Joseph Stiglitzge golikarana wade piliwela arathavath kreema: vimarshanayak, Sanwardhana,(in Sinhala) new series vol:3(2), September 2010
“Reading Stiglitz in Sri Lanka: An Interpretive Essay” Nethra Review, Vol: 11 Number 2 | December 2010
“Through Eminent Eyes: A Fifty Year Retrospective on the ‘Papers by Visiting Economists’ on Sri Lanka”, Essays in Honor of Professor Buddhadasa Hewavitharana, (Ed) Saman Kelegama, Sage Publication 2010, Editor
“Demonetization of the Sri Lanka Rupee: The Anatomy of a Monetary Experiment” Essays in Honor of Professor Jayanatha B. Kelegama, Sage Publication 2009
“Sri Lankawe mathe kaleena udamanaya ha eyin athiviya haki anithu vipaka”, Sanwardhana,(in Sinhala) New Series, Vol: 1(1)
“The Triumph of Hope Over Experience: A Marshall Plan for Sub-Saharan Africa”, (with Deepak Lal), Development Policy Outlook, No: 2, American Enterprise Institute, August 2007
“Least Developed Countries: The Tyranny of a Definition”, Development Policy Outlook, No 3. American Enterprise Institute, August 2006.
“Introduction” Trade, Exchange and Macroeconomics: Essays in Honor of Max Corden, Special issue of The World Economy , April 2003, Co-editor with James Riedel
“Capital Inflows and the Real Exchange Rate: A Comparative Study of Asia and Latin America” (with Prema-Chandra Athukorala). The World Economy, April 2003, (Eds.) Sarath Rajapatirana and James Riedel.
“Exceptional Protection: The Way Ahead” in Latin America: Its Future in the Global Economy, (Editor), South Asia Economic Journal, Vol: 3(1), January-June 2002.
"Developing Countries Trade Policies in the 1990s: Back to the Future", ("Trade, Development and Political Economy"). Essays in honor of Anne O. Krueger (Eds.) Richard N. Snape and Deepak Lal, Palgrave, 2001.
“Policy Relevance of Mainstreaming Trade within Country Development Strategies: The Perspective of Developing Countries” (with Chiedu Osakwe) World Trade Organization, Geneva 2001.
The Developing Countries’ Trade Policies: Recent Reforms and New Challenges, The American Enterprise Institute, October 2000. (Monograph).
Venezuela: The Remaining Agenda for Trade Reform, Revista de Derechos Internacional Economico, October 2000.
"Liberalization and Industrial Transformation: Lessons from Sri Lanka's Experience" (with Prema-chandra Athukorala) Economic Development and Cultural Change, Vol. 48 (3), April 2000
“Colombia y el Grupo Andino:Alternativas y Desavios,” Revista Coyuntura Economica, FEDESARROLLO, November 1999.
"The World Bank Policies towards Trade and Trade Reform", (with Anne Krueger), the World Economy, Vol.22 (6), 1999.
"Emerging Economic Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Second Generation Agenda" (with Paul Holden), Iberoamericana. Nordic Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Vol: XXVIII, (1-2), 1998.
"Antidumping and Competition Policies in Latin America: Rival Siblings or Total Strangers" (with J. Luis Guasch), World Bank Policy Research Paper No.1958, August 1998.
"Colombian Trade Policies and the 1996 WTO Trade Policy Review", The World Economy, Vol.21, (4), June 1998.
Macroeconomic Conditions for Optimal Trade Opening: Issues for Latin America", Macroeconomic Policies for the Twentieth Century, Central Bank of Ecuador, Special Volume on Seventieth Anniversary of the Central Bank, Quito, May 1998.
"Evaluating Bolivia's Choices for Trade Integration". Journal of Economic Integration, 12(3), September 1997.
With Luz Maria de la Mora and Ravi Yatawara. "Political Economy of Trade Reforms: Latin American Style", The World Economy, Vol.20 (3), May 1997.
"Small Developing Economies After the Uruguay Round: Opportunities and Challenges", Enterprise Research Institute, Washington DC 1997.
"Comment on Trade Flows in the Andean Countries: Unilateral Liberalization or Regional preferences?" in Annual World Bank Conference on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean 1997 (Eds.) Javed Burki, Guillermo Perry and Sara Calvo, World Bank 1997.
With Ravi Yatawara. "Sri Lanka in the Post Uruguay Round International Trading Environment, Upanathi (later, Sri Lankan Journal of Economics), Vol. 8(1) 1997.
"Trade Policies, Macroeconomic Adjustment, and Manufactured Exports: The Latin American Experience", Weltwirschaftliches Archiv, Band 132, Heft 3, fall 1996.
With Carlos Primo Braga and Julio Nogues. "America Latina y el caribe en la economica mundial: logros y retos de las reformas comerciales", Coyuntura Economica, Vol XXV. No.3, Septiembre de 1995.
"Global Competitiveness and Regional Integration: Implications for the Caribbean", Latin America and Caribbean Region: Technical Department, World Bank, July 1995.
"The Macroeconomic Crisis and Adjustment: Lessons from Experience", Finance and Development, May 1995.
"Post Trade Liberalization Policy and Institutional Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean", World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No.1465, May 1995.
With J. Luis Guasch. "The Interface of Trade, Investment and Competition Policies: Selected Issues and Challenges for Latin America", World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 1393, December 1994.
"The Evolution of Trade Treaties and Trade Creation: Lessons for Latin America", World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No.1371, September 1994.
"The East Asia Experience and its Relevance to the Caribbean within the NAFTA Environment". The Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, May 1994, published as a chapter in "Choice and Change: Reflections on the Caribbean", Inter-American Development Bank, distributed by Johns Hopkins University Press (Ed) Winston Dookeran), 1996.
With Prema-chandra Athukorala. "Liberalization of the Domestic Financial Market: Theoretical Issues with Evidence from Sri Lanka", International Economic Journal, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1993.
"Policy Recommendations for Export Promotion", Estudios de Economia, Universidad de Chile, Vol. 20, June 1993.
With Prema-chandra Athukorala. "The Domestic Financial Market and the Trade Liberalization Outcome: The Evidence from Sri Lanka", World Development, Vol. 7, No.4, winter 1993.
With Asad Alam. "Trade Policy Reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean in 1980s". Finance and Development, Vol.30 (2), September 1993.
"A Glimpse to Latin America's Global Trends in Trade", Latin Finance, Fall Supplement, 1992.
"Trade Policies for Adjustment and Growth", Proceedings of the Conference on Moving from Adjustment to Growth, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1992.
"Los Acuerdos de Libre Comercio de America Latina: Una Perspectiva Internacional", Centro de Economica de los Recursos Naturales y el Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Chile, 1992.
"Foreign Trade and Economic Development: Sri Lanka Experience", World Development, Vol. 16, No.6, October 1988.
With Deepak Lal. "Foreign Trade Regimes and Economic Development", World Bank Research Observer, Vol. 2, No.2, 1987.
"Industrialization and Foreign Trade", Finance and Development, Vol.24, No.3, September 1987.
"Some Policy Lessons from Macroeconomic Adjustment Experience", Upanathi (Sri Lankan Journal of Economics), Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 1986.
"Managing Cross Spot and Forward Exchange Rates in Sri Lanka", Central Bank of Ceylon Staff Studies, September 1973.
(Joint Agency Advisory Group, International Trade Center, World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), Business Perspectives on Overcoming Obstacles to Trade-ITC approach: Panel member on Non-Tariff Measures, Geneva, December 16th and 17th, 2010
“The Role of Ideology in Policy Making in Sri Lanka since Independence”. Lecture given at the Organization of Professional Associations on the occasion of the Independence Day Celebrations, February 04, 2010.
The Marshall Plan and the Lessons for Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa (with Deepak Lal), The American Enterprise Institute, March 18, 2008.
“Reconstruction versus Development Aid: Lessons from the Marshall Plan”, Institute of Policy Studies, July 2006
Gave a seminar on “The Doha Development Round: Progress or Regress”, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, February 2006.
Presented paper on “Trading to Prosperity and Freedom: Developing Countries in Perspective” at Mont Pelerin Society Meeting, Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 2004
Presented paper on “ World Bank’s Advocacy Role in Trade Issues vis-à-vis the OECD countries in Relation to Developing Countries in the 1990s: Issues and Evaluation”, Workshop organized by Operations Evaluation Department, World Bank, Dar el Salaam, December 2003.
Panelist, “Are there Development Issues in the Doha Development Round?” American Enterprise Panel Discussion, November 2003.
Co-organizer (with Professor James Riedel ) of the Conference, “ Trade, Exchange Rate Regimes Growth: A Conference to Honor Professor Max Corden”, School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, April 19, 2002
Guest Speaker, Tulane University (Virginia campus) Series, “After the Crisis: Lessons from the East Asian Experience” March 27, 2002
Speaker at the Dinner to Honor Professor Anne O. Krueger (First Deputy Managing Director, IMF) on the occasion of the presentation of a book compiled in her honor, American Economic Association Annual Meeting, January 4-6, 2002.
Panelist on the panel to discuss the Doha Declaration, American Enterprise Institute, Washington DC November 19, 2001.
Address to the Vietnam Donor Community Trade Group, Hanoi, October 30, 2001 on Vietnam’s Export Policies and Performance.
“Mainstreaming the Integrated Framework: Policy Issues and Challenges” Panelist in the Expert Group, World Trade Organization, Geneva, January 2001
“Mainstreaming the Integrated Framework: Policy Issues and Challenges” Panelist in the Expert Group, World Trade Organization, Geneva, January 2001
“Developing Countries’ Trade Policies: Recent Reforms and New Challenges”, Seminar to Staff, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Colombo, November 2000.
“Who is Afraid of Globalization?” Seminar at the Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 2000.
Recent Thinking on Development Economics" Graduate Seminar, Tulane University (Virginia Campus), November 1999.
"Developing Countries in the Next Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations", Center for Research on Economic Development and Policy Reform, Stanford University, October 1999.
"Developing Countries' Trade Policies in the 1990s", Friday Forum for Scholars, American Enterprise Institute, April 1999.
"Currency Boards versus Central Banks: Lessons from Sri Lanka's Monetary Experience, Professor H.A. de S. Gunasekera Memorial Lecture, and (The leading Economics Lecture in Sri Lanka). University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 1998.
"The Remaining Agenda for Trade Reform in Venezuela", Seminar given to Trade, Commerce and Finance Ministries' Officials, Caracas, Venezuela, August 1998.
"Anchoring Reforms in Latin America: A Second Generation Agenda", American Enterprise Institute, July 1998, (presentation).
War and Peace Colloquium, University of California, Los Angeles, October 1997 (presentation on Ethnic Strife in Sri Lanka).
"Economic Reforms in Latin America: Second Generation Issues", School of Asian and Pacific Studies, Australian National University, August 1997.
"Towards Open Regionalism" Conference organized by the Central Bank of Uruguay and the World Bank. Montevideo, July 1997 (commented on papers).
"Competition Policy, Antidumping and the FTAA" Outlook for Free Trade in the America, Institute of the Americas Conference, March 1997 (presented a paper).
"Mercosur and the Health Sector" Conference organized by the Pan American Health Organization and the Medical Association of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay, November 1996 (presentation).
International Cooperative Alliance Regional Conference, San Jose, Costa Rica, November 1996 (presentation).
Eleventh National Congress of the Industrialists Association, Costa Rica Chamber of Industries, San Jose, Costa Rica, June 1996. (Presentation on "Globalization and Small and Medium Enterprises").
Annual Investment Conference of Development Finance on Enterprise and Capital in the Caribbean. Chaired the session on Caribbean Financial Markets, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 1996. (Chaired plenary sessions).
Ministry of Economics, Government of Colombia and the World Bank seminar on private sector development in Colombia. Gave a seminar on "Economic Policy Uncertainty and the Private Sector in Colombia", Bogota, Colombia, January 1995.
Conference on Hemispheric Policy Forum "Reforms and Implementation: Next Steps", Institute of the Americas. Discussant on panel on Competition Policy and Anti-Dumping. University of California, San Diego, USA, February 1995.
Conference organized by the Caribbean Agriculture and Research Institute, The Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (Netherlands), and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Gave a paper on "Post Trade Liberalization Policy and Institutional Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean", Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, March 1995.
Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics organized jointly with Getulio Vargas Foundation. Presented a joint paper with (Carlos Primo Braga and Julio Nogues) on "Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy, Trade Reform, Progress and Risks of Reversal", Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 1995.
Third Annual Business Conference: Caribbean Business in the Year 2000 and Beyond. Presented a paper on "Global Competitiveness and Regional Integration: Implications for the Caribbean", Ocho Rios, Jamaica, June 1995.
Annual Regional Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance. Gave a paper on "The Emerging Economic Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean", Miami, USA, December 1995.
Seminar on "Macroeconomic Policies and Adjustment" to the Economics faculty, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, January 1994.
Institute for Foreign Trade and Investment, gave a seminar on "Macroeconomic Experience of Developing Countries", Ho Chih Minh City, Vietnam, January 1994.
Conference on "Caribbean Identity, Politics and Economics". Presented a paper on "The East Asia Experience and its Relevance to the Caribbean within the NAFTA Environment", Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA, May 1994.
International Cooperative Alliance, Annual Regional Conference. Presented a paper on "The Evolution of Trade Treaties and Trade Creations: Lessons for Latin America", Quito, Ecuador, August 1994.
Conference on Private Sector Development in Latin America organized jointly by the Catholic University, Santiago Chile and the World Bank. Chaired the plenary session and introduced the main topic, Marabella, Chile, October 1994.
Conference on World Trading System after the Uruguay Round. Presented a paper on "Latin America and the Caribbean after the Uruguay Round", University of California, Los Angeles, USA, December 1994.
Seminar organized by British Council on International Finance: Implications for Transformation and Development. Gave a seminar on "Inter-relations among Trade, Finance Investment Liberalizations", Eyesham Hall, Oxford, United Kingdom, November 1994.
Inter-American Development Bank and Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean-organized conference on "Trade Liberalization in the Western Hemisphere, member of panel, Sao Paulo, Brazil, (panelist), April 1993.
Annual meeting of the Chilean Economic Association. Presented paper “Policy Recommendations for Export Promotion: Santiago, Chile, May 1993.
Seminar on “Macroeconomic Adjustment and Trade Policy” to the Economics Faculty at Di Tella Institute. Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 1993.
Macroeconomic Policies and Economic Performance, Seminar at the Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo Sri Lanka, August 1992.
Annual Investment Conference, Development Finance, March 1992, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Presented paper on “Trade Policies and Economic Development”, March 1992.
Conference on Free Trade Areas in Latin America, University of Chile, Faculty of Economics and Administration. Presented the paper “Latin American Free Trade Agreements: An International Perspective”, Santiago, Chile, January 1992.
Conference on Privatization Issues in Latin America, organized by the Institute of the Americas, served as a panelist on regulatory policy environments University of California, San Diego, 1991.
Macroeconomic Policies and Long Term Growth, World Bank Research Project, Workshop for advisers and authors, Mexico City, Mexico, 1989.
World Development Report, 1987. As main author and team leader gave dissemination seminars in Washington (World Bank), London (Overseas Development Institute), Paris (World Bank Office), Bonn (Ministry of Economics), Delhi (Planning Commission and International Center for Research), Ahmedabad (Indian Institute of Management), Bombay (Industrial Development Bank, India), Kuala Lumpur (Institute for Strategic Studies), Jakarta ((Indonesian Economists Association), Seoul (Korean Development Institute). Manila (Philippines Economic Development Association), Beijing (Institute of Social Studies), Colombo (Marga Institute and Sri Lanka Economists Association), Canberra (Australian Development Bureau).
Macroeconomic Policies and Long Term Growth, World Bank Research Project, as the director of the project was a panelist in the workshop for the advisers and authors of the study, Madrid, Spain, 1987.
Institute for World Economics. Presented a joint paper with Deepak Lal on “Foreign Trade Regimes and Economic Growth in Developing Countries” at the Conference “Free Trade and the World Economy”. Kiel, Germany, April 1986.
Trade Liberalization Comparative Research Study. Discussant as a member of advisory board, Bangkok, Thailand, October 1986.
Multilateral Trade Negotiations Conference organized by the Thailand Development Research Institute and the World Bank, Bangkok, Thailand, May 1985.
Trade Liberalization Comparative Study, was a panelist as a member of the advisory panel Workshop in Vina del Mar, Chile, April 1985.
Conference on North-South Dialogue, panel member on “International Monetary Arrangements and the Developing Countries”, organized by Economics and Philosophy Departments, Simon Fraser University. Vancouver, Canada, October 1983.
Visiting Professor, Ho Chih Minh Economics University, Vietnam 2002.
External Examiner for Ph.D students in Economics at the School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, 2001
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Fullbright Scholarship to the United States 1968-69 for Graduate Studies (for a Master’s degree for two years, completed in a year with “A”s for all 10 courses).
Member, Board of Directors, Supported Employment Enterprise Corporation, Gaithersburg, Md. (NGO for job placement and coaching handicapped persons for jobs). 1997 to 2005
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Indonesian and Malay (Fair) (level 3 out of possible level 5) World Bank Language Division Evaluation.
Captain, Badminton Team, Marcus Fernando Hall, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya 1961-63
Comments on “New Structural Economics: A Framework for Rethinking Development” by Justin Yifu Lin
Going Forward: The Forgotten Need for Incentive Reforms in Sri Lanka
Last Version Marshall Plan and External Assistance to Sub S
Ideology and Economic Policy Making060707
Trading to Prosperity Final Draft2004
Review Trade Liberalization and Poverty in South Asia4
LDC Draft (updated tables)
NaipaulEvaluation
Reading Stiglitz in Sri LankaFinal2
UragahaExploration into our Family4rev._4
Review Trade WB Advocacy Role in Trade 7-7-03[1]