IPS to host post-Budget Twitter Chat

Saturday, 14 November 2020 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), the country’s apex socio-economic policy think-tank, will build a conversation around Budget 2021 by hosting a post-Budget Twitter Chat on 18 November from 2-4 p.m. through its official Twitter handle @TalkEconomicsSL.

IPS researchers will react to the Budget by sharing their insights and research findings relevant to next year’s Budget proposals. All those interested in joining the conversation can do so by following @TalkEconomicsSL on Twitter and using the hashtag #SLbudget2021. Questions can be posed to IPS researchers using #SLbudget2021 and tagging @TalkEconomicsSL.

The Budget for 2021 is expected to be presented in Parliament on 17 November by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, in line with the Government’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ policy declaration.

In the backdrop of the COVID-19 shock, all available estimates suggest that the world economy as a whole will experience its worst-ever downturn since the Second World War, and governments have been urged by multilateral financial institutions to ramp up spending to protect health and livelihoods to mitigate the effects of the unprecedented global shock. The challenge before the Government is to encourage more investment, create jobs, and boost economic growth.

As noted in IPS’ annual flagship report ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2020’, policy choices will play a critical role in determining the outcomes, and help greatly to mitigate risks of disruptive impacts from similar crises in the future.

IPS Director of Research Dr. Nisha Arunatilake noted: “The Budget for 2021 is being presented under exceptional circumstances that are not unique to Sri Lanka. The priorities for next year’s Budget would be to continue with ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19 while investing for a rapid recovery of the economy.”