Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

What Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka does

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) is an autonomous, non-profit economic policy research institute established by Act of Parliament No. 53 of 1988 and formally operational since 1990. Headquartered in Colombo, IPS conducts high-quality, independent, policy-oriented economic research across six thematic areas: Macro/Trade/Competitiveness, Migration/Urbanization, Health/Education/Labour, Agriculture/Agribusiness Development, Poverty/Social Welfare, and Environment/Natural Resources/Climate Change. The institute's core outputs include the annual State of the Economy flagship report, research studies, policy insights briefs, the Talking Economics blog/digest, and the peer-reviewed South Asia Economic Journal (co-published with RIS India since 2000).

IPS serves government policymakers (Sri Lankan ministries and the Central Bank), international development partners (World Bank, ADB, UNESCAP, IDRC), academia, and civil society through research dissemination, policy dialogue, commissioned consultancy, and convening. The institute is structured as a statutory autonomous body under the Board of Governors, with Executive Director Dr. Dushni Weerakoon also serving as an appointed member of the Central Bank's Monetary Policy Board. Cumulative research output includes 461+ research projects, 216+ presentations, and 660+ publications.

The revenue model is diversified across an internally managed Endowment Fund (initiated 1993, seeded with a C$1 million Government of Canada contribution in 1995), ongoing Government of Sri Lanka support, international development grants (notably IDRC's Think Tank Initiative Phases I and II), and commissioned research contracts from multilateral institutions. IPS became self-financing in June 2006 after the conclusion of four phases of Royal Netherlands Government funding. Go-to-market is primarily event- and relationship-driven: policy briefs, flagship publications, the South Asia Economic Summit, webinars, and direct policy dialogue rather than commercial sales channels. The institute also operates an auditorium (100-seat) and library as physical knowledge-distribution assets.

Name

Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

Legal name

Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

Website

https://ips.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka is an autonomous, statutorily established economic policy think tank in Colombo that conducts independent policy-oriented research across six socio-economic themes, producing flagship publications and policy advice for the Sri Lankan government, international development partners, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Endowment Fund: IPS established its own Endowment Fund which serves as a key financial resource base for the institute's operations, contributing to financial independence.
2. Government Funding: IPS receives support from the Government of Sri Lanka. The institute came under key ministries involved in economic policy making and implementation.
3. International Development Grants: IPS received initial support through a collaborative project between the Royal Netherlands Government and the Government of Sri Lanka under four phases of operations. The institute also received funding from the Government of Canada (C$1 million endowment contribution in 1995) and Think Tank Initiative (TTI) grants from IDRC.
4. Research Contracts and Consultancy: IPS conducts commissioned research and provides consultancy services to international organisations such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank, generating revenue through research contracts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IPS conducts policy-oriented economic research and disseminates findings through flagship publications (State of the Economy report, Research Studies, Policy Insights, Talking Economics Digest, South Asia Economic Journal) organized across six thematic research programs. It provides commissioned research consultancy to government ministries and international development organizations, complemented by knowledge-sharing facilities including an auditorium and library.

Product overview

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) is an autonomous economic research organization that offers a portfolio of research publications and policy analysis products rather than a unified software platform. Its core offerings include the annual State of the Economy flagship report, thematic Research Studies across six research programs (Macro/Trade, Migration/Urbanization, Health/Education/Labour, Agriculture, Poverty/Social Welfare, and Environment/Climate), the visual Policy Insights briefs, the Talking Economics blog digest, and the South Asia Economic Journal. Supporting facilities include an auditorium and library. IPS functions as a policy think tank disseminating research through publications, events, and public presentations rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Talking Economics: IPS blog featuring insights on the Sri Lankan economy and geopolitical forces shaping Sri Lanka
• South Asia Economic Journal

Products and services

• State of the Economy Report IPS flagship annual publication providing comprehensive analysis of Sri Lanka's economic performance, policy landscape, and development trajectory. Targeted at government, development partners, academia, and the public.
• Research Studies In-depth research studies covering macroeconomic policy, trade, health, education, agriculture, environment, and social welfare issues. Targeted at policymakers, development partners, and academic researchers.
• Policy Insights Shorter, visual representations of research findings providing snapshots into pertinent economic policy discussions and issues. Targeted at policymakers and the informed public.
• Talking Economics Digest Blog-based publication offering fresh insights on the economics and geopolitical forces shaping Sri Lanka. Targeted at the informed public, journalists, and researchers.
• South Asia Economic Journal International peer-reviewed journal jointly published with RIS India, covering economic development and policy issues in South Asia. Targeted at economists, academics, and policy researchers.
• IPS Auditorium State-of-the-art auditorium facility equipped with audio-visual technology and seating capacity of 100 in Colombo, used for policy events, conferences, and seminars. Targeted at event organizers, researchers, and government stakeholders.
• IPS Library Research resource facility serving students, researchers, and development professionals. Targeted at students, researchers, and development professionals.
• Research Program on Macro, Trade & Competitiveness Research focus on macroeconomic policy, structural reforms, trade and regional integration, investment, finance, SMEs, industry, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.
• Research Program on Health, Education & Labour Research addressing constraints to strengthening Sri Lanka's human resources, including tertiary education, health concerns, nutrition, NCDs, demographics, and labour markets. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.
• Research Program on Poverty & Social Welfare Research examining causes and determinants of socio-economic disparities, social protection, financial inclusion, and SDG objectives. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.
• Research Program on Environment, Natural Resources & Climate Change Research focusing on safeguarding natural capital, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, and sustainable energy policies. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.
• Research Program on Agriculture & Agribusiness Development Research on food security, agriculture policies, productivity, agribusiness value chains, and agricultural trade. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.
• Research Program on Migration & Urbanization Research examining foreign employment, migration patterns, urbanization challenges, and remittance impacts. Targeted at policymakers and development partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of impactful policy research shaping policy agendas across public finance, trade, education, health, climate change
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered key, regional, academic and international.

• World BankkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS works as consultant to World Bank on macroeconomic policy, trade integration, development economics, and South Asia regional cooperation research.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS provides research consultancy to ADB on South Asia economic development, trade facilitation, regional integration, and various sector studies.
• UNESCAPkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS contributes research papers, policy analysis and participates in UNESCAP forums on SDGs, regional cooperation and development policy for South Asia.
• SAARC Research NetworkregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS appointed as focal point of SAARC Research Network in 1998, facilitating regional research collaboration.
• IOR-ARC Academic GroupregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS appointed as focal point of Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IOR-ARC) in Sri Lanka in 1997, and later to the Chair of the group in 2004.
• Asian Cooperation DialogueregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS appointed as academic focal point for Asian Cooperation Dialogue in 2009, expanding regional policy engagement.
• Research and Information System (RIS) IndiakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS jointly publishes the South Asia Economic Journal with RIS India since 2000, and collaborates on regional development reports.
• Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES), Monash UniversityacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS Executive Director serves on Advisory Board of CDES, facilitating academic collaboration and research exchange.
• South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS collaborates with SAWTEE on South Asia Economic Summit (initiated by IPS in 2008) and regional trade policy research.
• Foreign UniversitiesacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOUs with foreign universities for exchange programmes initiated in 1996, supporting research collaboration and staff development.
• World Trade Organization (WTO)internationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS Executive Director functions as resource person on Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course conducted by WTO and University of Hong Kong.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): CPD is Bangladesh's leading independent economic policy think tank, conducting multi-thematic macroeconomic, trade, and social policy research with similar non-profit, donor-funded model. Most directly comparable peer operating in the same South Asian policy research niche.
• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): ICRIER is a New Delhi-based economic policy think tank producing trade, investment, and development research for government and multilaterals. Strongly comparable in terms of donor-funded research model and policy advisory mandate.
• Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS): RIS is an autonomous Indian policy research institute focused on trade, investment, and South Asia economic issues. Directly comparable as IPS's joint publisher of the South Asia Economic Journal and as a regional development policy peer.
• Institute of Policy Studies (IPS Singapore): Singapore's IPS is a similarly named public policy research institute focused on economic and social policy. Comparable in research mandate though it operates in a higher-income, more developed-market context.
• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): India's NCAER is one of the oldest economic policy research institutes, producing the National Income estimates and policy studies across macroeconomic, trade, and social sectors. Closest Indian counterpart in mandate and structure.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a major US-based policy research organization conducting economic, foreign policy, and development research. Comparable in policy research mandate and non-profit governance, but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a UK-based independent global affairs think tank producing research on international development and humanitarian policy. Comparable in non-profit, donor-funded model serving government and multilateral clients across developing economies.
• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): IDS is a UK-based global development research and teaching institute addressing poverty, governance, and economic policy in developing countries. Comparable in mission and donor-funded research model, but with much broader international footprint.

Others

• Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES), Monash University: CDES is Monash University's development economics research centre, on whose Advisory Board IPS's Executive Director sits. Comparable as a development economics research partner and academic collaboration counterpart.

Regional players

• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): PIDE is Pakistan's principal economic policy research and postgraduate teaching institute, addressing macroeconomic and development policy for the country. Comparable regional peer with overlapping scope but operates in a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1905655

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka