Rishad picks IPS economist Anushka Wijesinha as Industry Advisor

Wednesday, 19 November 2014 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A young economist at a Colombo think-tank has been handpicked to advice on Sri Lanka’s industrial portfolio development. “I welcome you to assist our Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Congratulations, and let’s get to work,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday, addressing Anushka S. Wijesinha, after appointing Wijes-inha as his Special Advisor on Industrial Development and Youth Entrepreneurship.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen (left) greets Research Economist Anushka S. Wijesinha, having handed over his mandate as the Special Advisor on Industrial Development and Youth Entrepreneurship yesterday in Colombo Wijesinha is Research Economist and Acting Unit Head of Industry, Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy Unit of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Colombo. “Industrial development is a vital aspect of fulfilling our hub ambitions as per the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. As we diversify our exports towards non-traditional products, our industries become even more crucial and we have some much to do,” added Bathiudeen. Previously, Wije-sinha, who is an MA (Economics and Development Leeds Business School), UK, and an Economics graduate of University College London, helped the Ministry by acting as the Lead Author of new industrial development framework and Five-Year Action Plan (2011-2015) with the seven-member committee of experts. Wijesinha was a Research Officer of the Presidential Commission on Taxation in 2009, co-writing its final report, and also was the Assistant Director of Economic Affairs of the Government Peace Secretariat. As part of his policy level engagements, Wijesinha also found himself to be active in Committees of ‘Economic and Fiscal Policy and Planning’, ‘FDI and Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Young Leaders’ of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.