Over a two-day public webinar “Development Projects: Better Regulations for Better Outcomes”, Verité Research presented insights and spoke to experts on its latest report “Opportunities to Protect Public Interest in Public Infrastructure: Review of Regulatory Frameworks in Sri Lanka”. The study focuses on procurement, environment and resettlement in relation to development projects. It identifies opportunities to boost public engagement to ensure that public investments into large infrastructure lead to better public outcomes.
Three problems that resulted in poor value for money in public infrastructure projects were noted as:
1. Frequent deviations from competitive bidding, which undermines the public procurement
process
2. Limited access to information across the entire procurement lifecycle for infrastructure
projects
3. Limited opportunities for public participation in infrastructure projects
Research and insights were presented by Subhashini Abeysinghe, Uween Jayasinghe, Senith Abeyanayake and Mathisha Arangala of Verité Research. Panels included Iromi Perera (Bank Information Centre, D.C), Sriyanie Wijesundara (Centre for Policy Alternatives), Priyankara Costa (National Fisheries Solidarity Movement), Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya (Environmental Scientist &Wildlife Researcher), Kanthi De Silva (former Central Environmental Authority) and Bhagya Wickramasinghe (Environmental Foundation Limited). Discussions were moderated by Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel.
Full report can be accessed at: www.veriteresearch.org/publications
Recordings of the sessions can be viewed at: https://fb.watch/v/2oSJxfr1Q/ (Day 1) and
https://fb.watch/v/1qGrDKxIb/ (Day 2).