In 2015, Sri Lanka underwent a major political transition that ended a slide towards authoritarianism that began after the conclusion of a three-decade civil war. The causes of the conflict were religious, ethnic, and regional. But many of the underlying drivers of the conflict were economic, as marginalized groups were prevented from engaging equally in the economy. When the conflict ended, many of these economic issues remain unresolved.
Therefore, CIPE recognizes that economic reform is imperative for short-term stabilization and long-term, inclusive growth, both to shore up the country’s renewed democracy and to prevent a return to conflict. To jumpstart that reform process, CIPE is partnering with Verité Research to enhance the business community’s ability to promote inclusive economic policies, to promote better-informed and more transparent policy dialogue, and to strengthen institutions of public accountability.