Sri Lanka
Published on: Apr 16, 2007

Autonomous Research Institutes


  • Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
    99, St. Michael's Road
    Colombo 3
    E-mail: ips@sri.lanka.net
    Web: ips@ips.lk

    Profile: IPS is a policy 'think thank' that engages in socio-economic research to supplement the research capacity of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Central Bank and others. IPS is funded by the Royal Netherland's Government and the Government of Sri Lanka. In the early years the Institute's programme focused on macro-economic policy issues. More recently the research portfolio has been extended to other areas i.e. social and economic infrastructure, health policy, gender, poverty alleviation, energy policy and government reforms.

  • Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
    120/10 Vidya Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 94-1-691681; 688740
    Fax: 94-1-691681
    Email: slaas@slt.lk
    Web:www.naresa.ac.lk/slaas/profile.htm

    Profile: Founded in 1944 to promote and foster science and scientific endeavour in Sri Lanka. Its activities range from providing guidelines and advising the Government on science and technology policy, reporting and raising consciousness on key issues. Section F of the SLAAS deals with the Social Sciences.

  • Sri Lanka Foundation Institute
    27,Independence Avenue
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 94-1-699481, 94-1-698814

    Profile: Founded in 1974 as a joint project of the Sri Lanka Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The affairs of the Foundation are carried out by a Board of Management which is appointed by the President of Sri Lanka. The objective of the Foundation is the promotion of the democratic way of life and the protection of Human Rights. The Foundation carries out studies on the democratic processes in industry and employment and it conducts seminars and training courses.

 


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Major Government Agencies


  • Agricultural Research and Training Institute (ARTI)
    114 Wijerama Mawatha
    Colombo 7

    Profile: Officially incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1972. It functions under the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Research. The functions and objectives of the Institute are among others to undertake, foster and coordinate research into the agrarian structure and examine the economic, social and institutional factors basic to the development of agriculture. The ARTI is today functioning at a minimum level due to lack of funding.

  • Department of Census and Statistics
    16/7 Albert Crescent
    PO Box 563
    Colombo 7
    Email: dcensus@lanka.ccom.lk
    Web: www.statistics.gov.lk

    Profile: This department is the central government agency responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing and disseminating statistical information and compiling statistical indicators related to the socio-economic conditions of the country. The department also supplies data to answer the needs of local and international agencies on a wide variety of subjects. The data collected covers subjects such as population, agriculture, trade, industry, prices, national income, labour, women, children etc..

  • Department of Archeology
    Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha
    Colombo 7

    Profile: Sri Lanka's apex institution for the management of its total archaeological heritage funded by the Treasury and the Central Cultural Fund.

  • Central Bank of Sri Lanka
    34-36 Janadhipathi Mawatha
    Colombo 1
    Tel: 94-1-421191; 26474
    Fax: 94-1-540353

    Profile: Established in 1950 under the Monetary Law Act No 58 of 1949 (MLA) the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the apex institution in the financial sector in Sri Lanka. It is a semi-autonomous body governed by a three member Monetary Board, comprising the Governor of the Central Bank as Chairman, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Planning and a third member appointed by the President of Sri Lanka. Its Economic Research Department is required to compile data and conduct economic research for the guidance of the Monetary Board and for the information of the Public.

  • Centre for Development Information
    Ministry of Finance and Planning,
    The Secretariat,
    Colombo 1
    Tel: 94-1-549378; 33229

    Profile: The CDI acts as a SAARC information centre in Sri Lanka. It has documents relating to SAARC and exchanges information with other SAARC countries. The Centre has data bases in Sri Lankan publications (LANCAT), Library Union Catalogue, periodicals, newspapers, articles.

  • National Integration Programme Unit (NIPU)
    7/15, Suleiman Terrace,
    Colombo 5
    Email: nipu@slt.lk

    Profile: Established in 1997 as an independent unit in the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Funded by NORAD.

  • National Institute of Education, Maharagama
    High Level Road, Ministry of Education
    Maharagama
    Tel: 94-1-550202

    Profile: The NIE plays an important role in Educational Policy development as well as strategic implementation of educational programmes in the Sri Lankan school system. The NIE undertakes research in the field of education but its main focus is on the production and publication of curricular materials.

  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
    National Science Foundation Vidya Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Email: info@nsf.ac.lk
    Web: www.nsf.ac.lk

    Profile: Is a state funded organisation established in 1988 as the successor to the National Resources Energy and Science Authority (NARESA). It functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The NSF is a statutory board of the government. The functions of the NSF include sponsoring and initiating scientific research. The activities of the NSF are carried out in consultation with a number of working committees, which are made up of scientists from universities, scientific/research institutions and other relevant state and private sector institutions. One of the working committees is devoted to the social sciences. The NSF awards research grants, organizes seminars and workshops and publishes scientific material including a journal on social sciences.

  • People's Bank
    75, Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha
    Colombo 2
    Tel: 94-1-27841

    Profile: A socio-economic research unit of the state bank, People's Bank was established in 1975 with the objective of conducting research related to national development.

  • Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka
    Women's Affairs Ministry
    Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka
    177, Nawala Road, Narahenpita
    Colombo 5

    Profile: Its main objective is to improve the socio-economic status of women. It organizes foreign funding for research on issues dealing with women. Such funding is channeled to individuals or organisations to carry out research projects.

 

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NGO's for Social Science Research


  • American Institute for Lankan Studies
    5/22 Sulaiman Terrace
    Colombo 5
    Tel: 2508512
    Email: aisls@sltnet.lk
    Web: http://www.aisls.org/colombo.html

  • Asia Foundation
    3/1 A, Rajakeeya Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Web: www.asiafoundation.org
  • Centre for Policy Alternatives
    32/3 Flower Rd.
    Colombo 7
    Web: www.cpalanka.org
  • Center for Society and Religion (CSR)
    281, Deans Road
    Colombo 10
    E-mail: csrlibra@slt.lk

    Profile: CSR was begun by Fr Tissa Balasuriya O.M.I (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) in 1971. Its mission includes social action and action oriented research. Publications: Logos (an English Quarterly Journal), Quest ( a Bi-annual journal), Dossiers (Documentations of already published articles).

  • Center for Women's Research (CENWOR)
    225/4, Kirula Road
    Colombo 5
    Email: cenwor@slt.lk
    Web: cenwor@panlanka.net

    Profile: Founded in 1984 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation with a view to facilitating the realization of the full potential of women in achieving equality in all spheres of life. It was formed by a group of academics, researchers and activists who were involved for several years in research and action-oriented studies and programmes relating to women.

  • International Centre for Ethnic Studies
    2 Kynsey Terrace
    Colombo 8
    Tel: 94-1-685085/679745/674884
    Fax: 94-1-698048
    E-mail: admin@icescolombo.org or ices_cmb@sri.lanka.net
    Website: www.icescolombo.org

    Profile:The International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), established in 1982, is committed towards producing historically sensitive theoretical and empirical research on ethnicity, and related social and political processes. The institution is concerned with the advancement of human rights and promotion of international peace. The ICES Library contains newspaper clippings on human rights and development issues apart from books, reports and other material mostly on law and social sciences. In addition it houses 50 journals. Further details can be obtained by emailing Mr Thambirajah at library@icescolombo.org. The Library is a reference only library and offers facilities for scanning, photocopying and microfilms.

  • International Centre for Ethnic Studies
    554/1, Peradeniya Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    Tel/Fax: 94-8-234892
    E-mail: ices@slt.lk
  • Law and Trust Society
    3, Kynsey Terrace
    Colombo 8
    Tel: 94-1-2-691228
    Email: lst@eureka.lk, lstadmin@sltnet.lk
    Web: www.lawandsocietytrust.org

    Profile:The Law & Society Trust was established 1982 to initiate studies and activities on law, legal processes and institutions. The Trust attempts to use law as a resource in the battle against underdevelopment and poverty, and as a tool for social change. These include publications, workshops, seminars and symposia. The resource center at LST has a reference collection of over 6000 books on law and political science. It also contains many rare and useful governmental and non-governmental, reports, documents and conference proceedings. The Trust also has some extremely insightful occasional papers and working papers.

  • Marga Institute
    93/10, Dutugamunu Street
    Kirulapone
    Tel: 94-1-585186, 581514
    Email: marga@sri.lanka.net
    Web: www.lanka.net/marga/

    Profile: Founded in 1972; non-profit multi-disciplinary, research organisation undertaking critical, non-partisan study of development issues in Sri Lanka and the Asian region; library of 25,000volumes, 37 periodicals

  • Peace and Community Action
    (Main office)
    23 Anura Mawatha
    Kalubowila
    Dehiwala
    Tel: 94-4-410396
    Email: office@pcasl.org

    Profile:The organisation, orginally named Thirupthiya, was founded as a Sri Lankan NGO in November 1999 by members of the team of Quaker Peace & Service (QPS), a British NGO operating in Sri Lanka at that time. This organization houses a small resource center, which may be of interest to scholars looking for information on peace and conflict trainings and manuals. The library is open from Monday - Friday, however, use of the library is subject to prior appointment and books are lent at the discretion of the staff.

  • Regional Centre for Strategic Studies
    2, Elibank Road
    Colombo 5
    Email: webmaster@rcss.org
    Website: www.rcss.org

    Profile: An independent, non-profit and on-governmental organization guided by an International Research Committee for collaborative research, networking and interaction on strategic and international issues pertaining to South Asia. Its areas of interest include defense build-up and proliferation, regional cooperation, refugees, political violence and terrorism, conflict resolution.

  • Social Scientists' Association
    425/15, Thimbirigasyaya Road
    Colombo 5
    Email:ssa@eureka.lk
    Web: www.ssalanka.com

    Profile: The SSA was founded in 1977 as a non-profit organisation with the aim of carrying out research and activities in issues pertaining to peace, democracy, pluralism, gender, equity, ethnic conflict resolution, social transformation, labour and human rights. All these issues have been highlighted through the SSA's programme of research, conferences, seminars and publications. The SSA has received funding from both local and international donors. It has also received funds through its own projects: the Suriya Bookshop, the sale of SSA books through bookstores and subscriptions to the SSA journal Pravàda.

    The English journal Pravada has been published quarterly by the SSA since 1991 and the Sinhala Pravàda first came out in June 1992.

  • Women's Education and Research Centre (WERC)
    58, Dharmarama Road
    Colombo 6
    Tel: 94-1-595296
    Fax: 94-1-596313
    Email: womedre@sri.lanka.net

    Profile: WERC originated in 1982 as the Women's Education Centre owing to the efforts of a group a women researchers and activists. Its aims are to create awareness on gender issues, to collect material relating to women and gender and to initiate research on women's issues. WERC conducts a series of conferences (in Sinhala, English and Tamil) once in two years where research papers in Women's studies are entertained.

 

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University Departments and Centres



  • University of Colombo
    94, Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha
    Colombo 3
    Web: www.cmb.ac.lk

    Demographic Training and Research Unit
    University of Colombo
    P.O. Box 1490
    Colombo 3
    Tel: 94-1-586111
  • University of Peradeniya
    Peradeniya 20400 Tel: 94-8-388301
    Fax: 94-8-388151
    Web:www.pdn.ac.lk
  • University of Ruhuna
    Matara
    Tel: 94-41-22681/82
    Fax: 94-41-22683 Web: www.ruh.ac.lk
  • University of Jaffna
    Thirunelveli
    P.O. Box 57
    Jaffna
    Tel: 94-21-2294, 2006
    Fax: 94-21-2294
    Web:www.jaffna.tripod.com
  • Open University of Sri Lanka
    P.O. Box 21,
    Nawala, Nugegoda
    Tel: 94-1-853777
    Fax: 94-1-436858
    Web: www.ou.ac.lk
  • University of Moratuwa
    Katubedda
    Tel: 94-1-650301
    Fax: 94-1-650622
    Web:www.mrt.ac.lk
  • Eastern University
    Vantharumoolai, Chenkaladi
    Tel: 94-1-654490,94-1-654436,94-1-652303
    Fax: 94-1-654549 (Vantharumoolai), 94-1-652302 (Batticaloa)
  • Sabaragamuwa University
    P.O. Box 2
    Belihuloya
    Tel: 94-1-453178, 94-1-453515, 94-1-453128
    Fax: 94-1-453128
    Email: belihul@mail.ac.lk

 

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