Does Inequality Matter? - CEPA

Good Practice in Poverty Measurement
posed to the representative of MAS was whether CSR was an old
tradition in this country which had received a new term
• Sri Lanka and MAS in particular has a long history of doing CSR.
She added that MAS was working closely with communities where
their factories are based. Some companies work in isolation and
prefer to do so. She also said that it’s a trial and error procedure
for everybody and this is the way they position themselves to the
clients.
• Another comment raised the issue that many companies are
operating on various subsidies (i.e. power generation, etc), and
that there was a need for a reciprocal contribution towards the
development of the country.
Day 2
Panel Discussion- Addressing Inequality- Policy perspectives
World Bank - Ambar Narayan, Senior Economist
Ambar Narayan presented selected findings from the World Bank poverty
assessment. Some of the challenges for Sri Lanka expressed in the
poverty assessment are enhancing the “capability” of the poor and the
“mobility” of those in lagging regions and estates. The poverty assessment
placed the focus on improving access to quality education, removing the
restrictions conflict imposes on certain groups and addressing factors
that lead to isolation and limit social and economic mobility of estate
residents. The assessment also highlighted the need for establishing
better links to markets and infrastructure in order to expand economic
opportunities in lagging regions, planning infrastructure development to
promote alternative growth centers to reduce primacy of Colombo, and
coordinating urban planning and rural development for optimal allocation
of resources
Mahinda Chintana- Wijerathne Banda, Ministry of Plan
implementation
Mr Wijerathne Banda of the ministry of Plan Implementation presented
some of the ideas expressed in the Mahinda Chintana. The presentation
expressed that 50% of the GDP is concentrated in the Western province
and as a result the Mahinda Chinthana focused on regional development.
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