Research Center for Business Economics and Development Studies

The Department of Business Economics of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura established the Research Center for Business Economics and Development Studies (RCBEDS) in 2020 with the aim of facilitating, promoting, and sustaining research culture among the educators, researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and students. Especially, this center expects to disseminate and share knowledge on contemporary issues in economics within the university system and among the local and foreign communities.
Overview
The Department of Business Economics of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura established the Research Center for Business Economics and Development Studies (RCBEDS) in 2020 with the aim of facilitating, promoting, and sustaining research culture among the educators, researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and students. Especially, this center expects to disseminate and share knowledge on contemporary issues in economics within the university system and among the local and foreign communities.
Rational for establishing the Research Center
The Department of Business Economics was established in 2002 with the mission to “create and disseminate knowledge for prosperity”. Inspired and guided by the mission, the Department has been continuously working towards developing and establishing an effective culture of research by providing a supportive context in which the creation, discovery, development, and dissemination of knowledge through research is recognized, facilitated, and valued. Hence, the RCBEDS by the Department of Business Economics is considered an integral part of the Department’s efforts towards promoting and sustaining a rich research culture. In doing so, it aims to fulfill a key national responsibility of the Department, Faculty as well as the University, whereas through research it will effectively partake in and contribute to national development and progress of the country.
Mission and Objectives
Mission

Mission of the center is to become the leading Research Centre for Business Economics and Development Studies in Sri Lanka by facilitating, promoting, and sustaining high quality economics and development related research for a wide variety of audiences, educators, researchers, policy makers, practitioners, students, and alike. Hence, it works to promote, and facilitate high quality research on economics and development through which a rich culture of research is consistently expected, deliberated, produced, and valued in Sri Lanka.

Main Objective

To establish, encourage, and nurture a rich research culture within and beyond University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Secondary Objectives
  1. To promote and produce high quality economics and development related research among members of the center
  2. To disseminate research-based knowledge
  3. To encourage national and international scientific cooperation and understanding among members of the center
  4. To generate funds for research and publications of members of the center
  5. To contribute to the national development
Proposed Activities
In order to accomplish the objectives, the following activities are proposed.
  1. Creating a rich research culture in the Department of Business Economics that encourages academic staff and students to carry out high quality research on economics, development studies and related disciplines
  2. Organizing workshops, seminars to disseminate knowledge relating to the contemporary issues
  3. Conducting programs to develop and enhance research skills of members
  4. Disseminating research-based knowledge through scientific publications and research conferences
  5. Developing national and international scientific cooperation between public and private sectors, national and international scientific institutions and agencies, and the Department of Business Economics in terms of research and consultancy projects
  6. Recruiting leading researchers, locally and internationally, as visiting research scholars at the Centre.
  7. Providing consultancy and other support services for research
  8. Launching a research-based website to promote and facilitate research of members
Board of Management
Functions of the RCBEDS will be executed by a Board of Management appointed by the Department of Business Economics.

The Board of Management comprises:

Director
  • Prof. M. A. K. Sriyalatha, Professor, Department of Business Economics
Executive Board
  • Snr. Prof. S. P. P. Amaratunge, Chairman, University Grant Commission
  • Prof. P. J. Kumarasinghe, Professor, Department of Business Economics
  • Prof. U. Anura Kumara, Professor, Department of Business Economics
  • Prof. M. S. S. Perera, Professor, Department of Business Economics
  • Prof. P. J. S. Fernando, Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Economics
  • Dr. (Mrs.) D. R. J. Siriwardhane, Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Economics
Secretary
  • Dr. M.P.K. Withanawasam, Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Economics
Contact Details
Telephone: +94 112 802 005
News

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Advancing Climate-Economic Research: Two-Stage Workshop Series on Input–Output Analysis and Post-Disaster Impacts

New Study Proposes Robust Framework to Measure Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy

Posted: January 29, 2026

A peer-reviewed research study authored by Prof. M.A.K. Sriyalatha, Dr. P.P. Lalanie, and Dr. M.P.K. Withanawasam proposed a comprehensive framework to measure Sri Lanka’s digital economy, contributing to national policy discussions on digital transformation and economic development.

National Recognition: GCF Team Grant 2025-26 Awarded to Transport Research Initiative

Posted: January 20, 2026

A research team led by Prof. M.A.K. Sriyalatha, together with Dr. Priyantha Lalanie and Dr. M.P.K. Withanawasam, received the Gamani Corea Foundation Team Grant 2025/26 for their study on financial losses, underutilisation, and service inefficiencies in Sri Lanka’s state-owned public transportation systems.

Sri Lankan Journal of Business Economics VOLUME 14 (ISSUE 2) – 2025

Posted: November 30, 2025

The Department of Business Economics launched the Sri Lankan Journal of Business Economics (SLJBE) Volume 14, Issue II (2025 November) which is a peer-reviewed bi-annual journal on the field of business economics and related research fields. Volume 14 (Issue II) comprises seven (07) articles from scholars. Dr. (Mrs.) P. Priyantha Lalanie served as the Executive […]