Decentralisation and Development within a Unitary State book launch today

The Department of Economics, University of Colombo will be launching the book on ‘Decentralisation and Development of Sri Lanka within a Unitary State’ on Thursday, 28 December at 4:30 p.m. at the Department premises. The book is published by Springer Singapore in 2017. It is a volume of 15 papers authored by Sri Lankan and foreign scholars and is edited by N.S. Cooray, a Professor in Economics at the International University of Japan and Sirimal Abeyratne, a Professor in Economics at the University of Colombo. The publication will be reviewed by Professor S. Colombage.

Sustainable development of societies and wellbeing are determined by the allocation of resources (inputs and output) by market forces and intervention of state. Many countries are now experimenting decentralisation or delegating state power to sub-national governments because they believe this process will enhance efficiency in service delivery, stimulate economic growth, eradicate rural poverty, strengthen civil society, deepen democracy, reduce heavy fiscal burden of the centre, and solve many different kinds of problems including environmental issues. The book provides analysis on decentralisation and development from Sri Lankan experience, challenges and prospects, supplemented by comparative studies from ASEAN countries, Canada, Japan, and Vietnam.