Sri Lanka in 2023: Short-Term Solutions to Long-term Problems
2023 was a transitional year for Sri Lanka as it continued to recover from its worst economic crisis since independence. While the previous year's mass Aragalaya (“struggle” in Sinhalese) protests in response to the crisis kicked out the previous government,…
Assessing the IMF’s Role in South Asia’s Development
The International Monetary Fund has remained a critical actor in shaping South Asia’s economic evolution following the end of World War II. Nascent South Asian states integrated their localized economies with global markets and increased their international trade. However, economic…
The Case for Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises in Sri Lanka
In 2021, state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines reported losses of more than one percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP. Totaling USD $552 million in 2021, the loss of one state owned enterprise is larger than the entire national social security budget set…
پاکستان اور آئی ایم ایف: سیاست بازی کا جاری سلسلہ اور اعتماد کا بڑھتا ہوا فقدان
فروری ۲۰۲۳ میں پاکستان آنے والا آئی ایم ایف کا مشن، اپنے پروگرام کے لیے نویں جائزے کی تکمیل کے لیے تیار تھا، جو کہ دسمبر ۲۰۲۲ سے موخر ہو رہا تھا۔ اسٹاف لیول پر دستخط پانے والے معاہدے سے…
Pakistan’s Precarious Crossroads
The May 9 arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges sent shockwaves throughout Pakistan, magnified further by attacks on army installations during violent protests across the country. Adding to the intensity, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore handed 16 civilians over…
The IMF’s Evolving Role in Sri Lanka Amidst Increasing Chinese Investments and Great Power Competition
Introduction Sri Lanka's widely-discussed economic crisis, which resulted from a combination of policy missteps, culminated in the country's default on its foreign debt repayments in April 2022. In response, Sri Lanka embarked on its 17th Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with…