Ms Sunimalee Madurawala
Sunimalee Madurawala, currently serving as a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), brings with her more than 15 years of extensive research experience in gender studies, health economics, and population studies.
Her scholarly work extends to authoring numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, book chapters, and blogs. Noteworthy among her recognitions are the Australia Awards Fellowship on Developing Economic Research to Support Priority Economic and Social Goals (Sri Lanka) at Griffith University, Australia (2016/2017), awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Government of Australia. Additionally, she received the Fellowship on Asia-Pacific Capacity Development on Gender and Macroeconomic Issues - Second Regional Intensive Course, awarded by UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre & Ochanomizu University, Japan (2011).
Sunimalee holds a BA (Economics Special) degree with first-class honors and a Masters in Economics (MEcon) degree from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Furthermore, she is partially qualified in Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA-UK).
Selected publications
- Madurawala, S., Kiringoda, K., Thow, Anne Marie & Arunatilake, Nisha. (2023). Fiscal policies and regulations for healthy diets in Sri Lanka: an analysis of the political economy of taxation and traffic light labelling for sugar-sweetened beverages, Global Health Action, 16:1, DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2280339
- Madurawala, S., (2017) Labour Force Participation by Women and Inclusive Growth: An Application of Social Opportunity Function for Sri Lanka, South Asia Economic Journal, 18(2) 214-229
- D. S. P. Madurawala, (2009), Labour Force Participation of Women in Childbearing Ages, Sri Lanka Journal of Population Studies, Volume 11: 01-38, December
- Arunatilake, N., Madurawala, S. (2023). Women’s access to decent work in Sri Lanka: Addressing context-specific barriers. PEP Policy Brief No. 268 December 2023. https://portal.pep-net.org/document/download/39024
- Madurawala, S. (2023). Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Recognizing, Reducing and Redistributing Unpaid Care Work in Sri Lanka in Working Hours: Exploring Gender Dimensions of Unpaid Care Work in Sri Lanka. In S. Kottegoda & P. Peiris (Eds.), Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association (pp. 92-109). Colombo.
- Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C., Ranasinghe, R. (2023). Tobacco Free Zones: A Pathway to Tobacco Free Sri Lanka. Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Colombo.
- Madurawala, S. (2021) ‘The COVID-19 Pandemic and Employed Women: Ensuring Gender Equality beyond the Pandemic’ in Sri Lanka State of the Economy 2021: Pandemic and Policy: Protecting Health and Promoting Economic Recovery, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
- Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. (2021), Tobacco Smoking Cessation: Lessons and Policy Options for Sri Lanka, Health and Education Series No. 19, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Colombo
- Madurawala, S. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic, Women and Women in the Workforce in State of the Economy 2020 Pandemics and Disruptions: Reviving Sri Lanka’s Economy COVID-19 and beyond. Colombo, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
- Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C., Thilanka, C. (2020), Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and understanding the Last Mile Smokers, Health, and Education Research Series: No. 18. Colombo, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
- Ranasinghe A., Madurawala S., Su Jen Je, and Senadeera T., (2017) An empirical investigation of labour shortage in the manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka, Discussion Paper Series, No. 2016-05 Economics and Business Statistics, Griffith University.
- Madurawala, S., Hirimuthugodage, D., Premaratne, D., Wijayasiri, J. (2017), Women-owned and led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in spice and Coir Sectors of Sri Lanka: Constraints and Policy Options, Working Paper Series No. 28, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Colombo
- Tilakaratna, G., Nanayakkara W., Madurawala S., Jayaratne, S., Wickramasinghe K. (2017), National Level Implications of SDG Implementation, The Case of Sri Lanka, Occasional Paper Series 41, Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals,
- Madurawala S., (2014), Female Employment for Inclusive Growth: Trends, Issues and Concerns of Female Labour Force Participation in Sri Lanka, Working Paper, Labour Economics Series No. 16. Colombo, Institute of Policy Studies
- Khatun F., Ahamad, M.G., Chaturvedi S., Sharma P., Sapkota C., Ahmed A., Naveed A., Dayaratne G. D., and Madurawala S., (2011), ‘Liberalising Health Services under SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS): Implications for South Asian Countries’, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS) Paper No. 24.
- Madurawala, S. (2016), Public or Private: Determinants of Choice of Healthcare Providers in Sri Lanka, Health Economic Policy Series No. 03, November 2016, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
- Madurawala, S., Hirimuthugodage, D., Premaratne, D., Wijayasiri J. (2016), Trade Winds of Change- Women entrepreneurs on the rise in South Asia- Background country study – Sri Lanka, UNDP, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Regional Hub
- Attygalle K., Hirimuthugodage D., Madurawala S., Seneratne A., Wijesinha A. and Edirisinghe C. (2014), ‘Female Entrepreneurship and the Role of Business Development Services in Promoting Small and Medium Women Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka’, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Oxfam GB, Sri Lanka
- United Nations Development Programme Sri Lanka, (2015) ‘Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2014 Sri Lanka’, UNDP Colombo - Chapters on ‘Improving Maternal Health’ and ‘Reduce Child Mortality.’
- Madurawala S., (2014), ‘Gender Equality and Empower Young Women’ in ‘Youth and Development: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Sri Lankan Youth’, Colombo, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skill Development
- Madurawala S., (2013), ‘Making Women More Participatory in the Process of Economic Development’, in IPS (eds), Sri Lanka State of the Economy Report (SOE) 2013, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka: Colombo. (IPS publication; ISBN 978- 955-8708-77-4)
- Bandara S., Jayaratne N., and Madurawala S., (2013), ‘Intersectoral Action for Health in Addressing Social Determinants of Health through Public Policies in Sri Lanka: Health in All Policies (HiAp)’, IPS, Colombo
- United Nations Development Programme Sri Lanka, (2012) ‘Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012: Bridging Regional Disparities for Human Development’, UNDP, Colombo. Chapter on ‘Bridging Human Development Gaps: Health’
- Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka and United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) (2010), ‘Millennium Development Goals, Sri Lanka Country Report 2008/2009’,(IPS publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-62-0)
- Jayawardene, J., and Madurawala S., (2011), ‘Education and Health for Sustainable Growth ‘, in IPS (eds), Sri Lanka State of the Economy Report (SOE) 2011, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka: Colombo. (IPS publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-68-2)
- Dayaratne G. D., and Madurawala S., (2010), ‘Challenges to Health Financing in a Post-conflict Environment’, in IPS (eds), Sri Lanka State of the Economy Report (SOE) 2010, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka: Colombo. (IPS publication; ISBN publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-66-8)
- Dayaratne G. D., and Madurawala S., (2007), ‘Access to Health Care’, in IPS (eds), Sri Lanka State of the Economy Report (SOE) 2007, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka: Colombo. (IPS publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-52-1
Blogs/Newspaper Articles
Madurawala, S. (2023). Battling Disease and Debt: Financing Non-Communicable Diseases Amidst Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis, Talking Economics Blog, 20th April 2023 available
Madurawala, S. (2022). Reducing Women’s Employment Vulnerability in Sri Lanka Beyond the Pandemic, Policy Insight, Development Asia, 7th March 2022
Madurawala, S. (2021, September 7). Sri Lanka’s Gender-based Employment Segregation: Does it Increase Women’s Vulnerability Amidst COVID-19? Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2020, September 7). COVID-19, Work from Home, and Female Labour Force Participation: A Lesson for Sri Lanka. Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2020, August 31). Securing Women’s Place in Sri Lanka’s Apparel Industry. Development Asia.
Madurawala, S. (2020, April 27). Smoking in the Time of Corona: Why Limiting Smoking is Important in the Battle against COVID-19 Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2019, March 8). Greater Social Protection for Sri Lankan Women through Better Jobs: Role of Technology and Innovation Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2019, January 14). Women in Times of Disaster: Gender Dimension of Disaster Management in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.:
Madurawala, S. (2018, February 6). Economically Empowering Sri Lankan Women: One Strategy Does Not Fit All. Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2018, February 6). Lead like a Girl: Empowering Sri Lanka’s Female Leadership. Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2017, October 3). The Gendered Face of NCDs: Can Sri Lanka Beat the Odds? Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2017, April 3). The Dwelling Stitching Hands: Labour Shortage in the Apparel Sector in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2016, March 8). Making a Better Place for Her: Gender Equality for Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2015, October 12). Facing the Risks: Occupational Safety & Health of Paddy Farmers in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2015, March 8). Networking and Information: Crucial Ingredients in Empowering Women Owned and Led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2014, August 1). Better Business Development Services Can Help Sri Lanka’s Women Entrepreneurs Prosper Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2014, March 8). What women do and what women can do: Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality in Sri Lanka Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2013, October 9). Dying to work? Why health and safety in workplace an important economic Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2013, March 8). Broken Promises: The Plight of Women in Sri Lanka and its Economic Costs Talking Economics.
Madurawala, S. (2012, October 30). Gender Equality in Human Development: What’s Holding Sri Lanka Back? Talking Economics.
