Ranjith Bandara

Prof Ranjith BandaraSinhala: මහාචාර්ය රංජිත් බණ්ඩාර born 04 November 1961 is a Sri Lankan politician. He currently serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) of Sri Lanka appointed through the national list of Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance.[1] He was a Senior Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Colombo until his recent appointment to the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka as a Member of Parliament. Bandara was also the Chairman of Sri Lanka Foundation,[2] Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, CEO of the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) and director financial services cluster and a member of the National Economic Council, Financial System Stability Consultative and the rating committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and as well as the Founder Chairman and the Head of the Colombo School of Business and Management (CSBM). He also served on the Board of Directors and as a consultant of various institutions in both the private and public sectors. He was the Editor of the Sri Lanka Economic journal and the management digest and the International Journal of Entrepreneurship. Bandara earned his Ph.D. from the University of Queensland in 2003.

Hon. Prof Ranjith Bandara MP
මහාචාර්ය රංජිත් බණ්ඩාර
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament for National List
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 August 2020
Personal details
Born	4 November 1961 Kandy, Ceylon
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Spouse(s)	Pradeepa Bandara (m.1993)
Children	Dhananjaya Bandara , Kanishka Bandara
Alma mater	University of Peradeniya University of Colombo Agricultural University of Norway University of Queensland
Occupation	Academic
Website	[]

Education and early career

He was born on 4 November 1961. He received his preliminary and secondary education at Sirimalwatte Rajakiya Vidyalaya went on to graduate with a BA in Economics from University of Peradeniya in 1990 and a MA degree in economics from the University of Colombo in 1992. He received the Norwegian Fellowship from the government of Norway and completed his MSc degree in management of natural resources and sustainable agriculture from the Agricultural University of Norway (1995) and later received the International Postgraduate Research scholarship from the government of Australia and the University of Queensland International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and completed his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Queensland (2003).[3]

Legislative career

Sri Lanka Parliament

Following the 2020 parliamentary election, he was appointed to the Parliament of Sri Lanka as a National List MP representing the Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance. He's involved as a member in the committee on ethics and privileges, the committee on public accounts (COPA), ministerial consultative committee on Finance, Committee on public finance,and the ministerial consultative committee on Foreign Affairs.[4]

Positions held

• Senior Professor at the department of economics, University of Colombo.
• Chairman/Head of School, Colombo School of Business and Management, Ward Place, Colombo 7.

[5]

• Chairman, Sri Lanka Foundation, No. 100, Sri Lanka Padanama Mw, Colombo 7.
• Visiting Professor, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Bangkok, Thailand.
• Senior Economic Advisor/Director Financial Service Cluster, Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) No 21, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1.
• Senior Director, Board of Directors, Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka PLC, Colombo 3.
• Senior Director, Serendib Engineering Group PLC, Colombo 7.
• Member, National Economic Council, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
• Member, Financial System Consultative Committee (FSCC) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
• Member, Sovereign Rating Committee (SRC) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
• Director, Board of Directors of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH) Board.
• Director, Board of Directors, MBSL Insurance, Colombo 2.
• Director, Board of Directors, Infrastructure Developers  PLC, Colombo 7
• Council Member, National Institute of Social Development, Colombo.
• Co-opted Member,  National Steering Committee of the Global Environmental Facility, United Nation Development Programme, Colombo
• Director,  Board of Directors - Merchants Credit of Sri Lanka, Galle Road, Colombo
• Director, Board of Directors- MBSL Savings Bank, Colombo 3.
• Director, Board of Directors, National Livestock Development Board, Colombo 5.
• Director, Board of Directors, Sri Lanka Libya Agricultural & Livestock Development Co, Lanlib Balding  46/56 Navam Mw, Colombo 02.
• Member, Board of the College of Education, Ministry of Education.
• Member, Expert Committee of the Institute of Cooperate Development, Sri Lanka Institute of Cooperate Development.
• Member, Expert Committee to Policy Studies and Applied Research, Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.
• Member, Panel of Judges of the National Awards for Excellence in Agriculture, Sri Lanka Council for Agriculture Research and Policy.
• Member of the Trustee of the DIVINAGUMA Social Security Found, Ministry of Economic Development.
• Member, Panel of Judges of the Sri Lanka Tourism Award, Sri Lanka Tourism Authority.
• Editor, Management Digest, Essence Publishers, of Sri Lanka.
• Editor, Sri Lanka Economic Journal, Sri Lanka Economic Association, Colombo.
• Editor, International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Colombo School of Business and Management, Ward Place, Colombo 7.
• Director, Melwa Group of companies.

Source:[6]

Research awards and fellowship

1. Global Commerce Excellence Award - 2014 -Shipper's Academy of Sri Lanka in association with Central bank of Sri Lanka.
2. Service Excellence Award -2012- Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs, Central Province, National Youth Service Council.
3. Annual Research Award for Academic Excellence - 2005/2006 - University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
4. International Postgraduate Research Scholarship for 1999, Government of Australia.
5. University of Queensland International Postgraduate Research Scholarship for 2001, Australia.
6. SIDA Fellowship – 1997, Swedish International Development Cooperation
7. Norwegian Fellowship – 1993, Government of Norway.
8. Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship – 1984.

Source:[7]

Research and Publications

INTERNATIONAL REFERRED JOURNAL ARTICLES   

• Ranjith Bandara (2011) The Determinants of Inflation in Sri Lanka: An Application of Vector Autoregression Model, South Asian Economic Journal. 12 (2): pp 271–286.
• Ranjith Bandara (2009) The Practice of Ecotourism in Sri Lanka: An Assessment of Operator Compliance Towards International Ecotourism Guidelines, South Asian Economic Journal. 9 (2): pp 153–178.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2005) Effects of Change in Abundance of Elephants on Willingness to Pay for Their Conservation, Journal of Environmental Management, 76:47-59.
• Ranjith Bandara (2004). Economic Value of Conservation: The Case of the Asian Elephant, South Asian Economic Journal 5:283-300.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2004). The Net Benefit of Saving the Asian Elephant: A Policy and Contingent Valuation Study, Ecological Economics 48: 93-107.
• Clem Tisdell and Ranjith Bandara (2004) Human Societies, Economics and the Fate of the Asian Elephant, Indian Science (Special Volume on Asian Elephant) 9:24-32.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2003). Comparison of Rural and Urban Attitudes to the Conservation of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka, Biological Conservation, 110: 327–342.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2002). Asian Elephants as Agricultural Pests: Economics of Control and Compensation in Sri Lanka. Natural Resource Journal, 42:491-519.

NATIONAL REFERRED JOURNAL ARTICLES

• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2004). Use and Non-Use Values of Wild Asian Elephants: A Total Economic Valuation Approach, Sri Lanka Economic Journal 4:193-211.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2003). The willingness of Sri Lankan Farmers to Pay for a Scheme to Conserve Elephants: An Exploratory Study, Journal of Science 3:30-54.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2003). The Economic Value of Conserving the Asian Elephant: Contingent Valuation Estimates for Sri Lanka, Gajha-Journal of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group, 22: 22–28.
• Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell (2007) Visitors’ Reaction to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka: A Survey, Modern Sri Lanka  Studies, 11:120-146.
• Clem Tisdell and Ranjith Bandara (2006). Wildlife-Based Recreation and Local Economic Development: The Case of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences,  28: 65–96.
• Ranjith Bandara (2007) Insuring Farmers Against Wildlife Damage: Mixed Good  Considerations and Sri Lankan Elephants as a Case,  Sri Lanka Economic Journal 8:101-134.
• Jayathilaka, R., and Bandara R. (2009) Effectiveness of Foreign Aid: A Critical Assessment, Sri Lanka Economic Journal, vol 9 (2) pp 53–78.

RECENT RESEARCH PUBLICATION AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

• Ranjith Bandara (2011), Social Integration By Promoting Inclusive Policies That Reduce Economic Inequality And Poverty And Promote Sustainable And Equitable Development: Sri Lankan Experience, Challenges of Post Conflict Sri Lanka, Annual Symposium 2011 18 and 19 August 2011, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, ISBN 978-955-0301-02-7.[8][9]

• Anura Manatunga, Ranjith Bandara and Amalka Wijesuiya (Editors) (2011), International Association for Asian Heritage, First Biennial Conference,  International Conference, Abstract Volume, Centre For Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-0643-00-4.
• Dinali Jayasinghe and Ranjith Bandara (2011) Small scale environment projects and their impact on minimizing land degradation in Sri Lanka: A case study of Community Development Centre, Aranayake, 16th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo.
• Ranjith Bandara (2011), Aspirations and Yearnings of Young South Asia: Sri Lankan perspective International Conference on Changing Social Dynamics in South Asia: Prospects and Challenges for India and Sri Lanka, 17 and 18 August 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Ranjith Bandara (2012), Education for Professional Development: Role of Professional Associations and their membership, Keynote Address at 4th Annual Sri Lanka Optometric Association Scientific Sessions 13 May Gall Face Hotel, Colombo 2.
• Dinali Jayasinghe and Ranjith Bandara (2012),  Improving the Livelihoods of Women by Promoting Environmentally Sound Soil Conservation Practices in The Home Garden,  TEEB International Conference - 2012 (The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity) Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature: Challenges for Science and Implementation, March 19–22, 2012, Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) Leipzig, Germany.
• Dinali Jayasinghe and Ranjith Bandara (2013),  Evidence on the Ground of ZNLD (Zero Net Land Degradation): Case study of Community Development Centre, Aranayake, Sri Lanka, (Abstract Publication and Presentation) 4th International Conference on Drylands, Deserts & Desertification, November 13–16, 2013, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
• Ranjith Bandara (2013), A Baseline Survey of Sri Lankan Nomads-The Gypsies in Sri Lanka (Book Chapter) in Traditional Communities in Sri Lanka: The Ahikuntaka pp. 64–92, Dilmah Conservation, Ceylon Tea Services PLC, ISBN 978-955-0081-08-0.
• Ranjith Bandara (2014), Regional Disparity Challenges of Post-Civil War Development in Sri Lanka in Sumita Kumar (Ed) Stability and Growth in South Asia pp. 156–175,  Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, ISBN 978-81-8274-748-7.
• Ranjith Bandara (2014) Drip irrigation as a strategy for water scarcity at the small scale farming community levels in the arid zones of Sri Lanka: An empirical study, (Abstract Publication), 5th International Conference on Drylands, Deserts & Desertification, November 17–20, 2014, Sede Boqer Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
• Ranjith Bandara (2015),  Effectiveness of electric fences in improving social wellbeing and the livelihood of the farming communities in the areas affected human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, (Extended Abstract Publication), Faculty of Arts International Research Conference 2015, (IConArts2015),3 – 4 December 2015, University of Colombo, Colombo 3.
• Ranjith Bandara (2015), Climate change adaptation by small scale farmers dealing with water scarcity in Moneragala and Hambantota Districts in Sri Lanka, (Extended Abstract), Faculty of Arts International Research Conference 2015, (IConArts2015), 3 – 4 December 2015, University of Colombo, Colombo 3.
• Ranjith Bandara (2016),  Climate change adaptation by small scale farmers dealing with water scarcity in Moneragala and Hambantota Districts in Sri Lanka (Book Chapter) in Coping with Climate Change and Variability: Lessons from Sri Lankan Communities pp. 67–71, Global Environmental Facility/Small Grants Programme Sri Lanka, United Nations Development Programme, Colombo, ISBN 978-955-1031-55-8.
• Godamulla, D., Weerasinghe, H.A., Jayasinghe, I.D, Bandara, R. (2016),  Cultivation of Traditional Crops Under Improved Soli Management Practices as an Adaptive Strategy pp. 52–54, Global Environmental Facility/Small Grants Programme Sri Lanka, United Nations Development Programme, Colombo, ISBN 978-955-1031-55-8.
• Ranjith Bandara, (2016) (Editor) Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship: Opportunity Identification and Value Creation for Emerging Economies (ICSE 2016), Colombo School of Business and Management, held at the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) Campus Auditorium on  December 1 and 2 2016, ISBN 978-955-1031-55-8.
• Ranjith Bandara, (2017) (Editor) Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship: Innovations in Social Enterprise For Development (ICSE 2017) Colombo School of Business and Management, held at the SLF Auditorium on  December 1 and 2 2017, ISBN 978-955-1031-55-8.

Source:[10][11]

Books/ monographs

1. Ranjith Bandara (2005) The Economics of Human-Elephant Conflict, Protected Area Management and Wildlife Conservation Project, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Colombo, Sri Lanka, ISBN 955-9021-45-1.
2. Ranjith Bandara (2008) Practical Guide to Academic Writing, Karunarathne and Sons, Colombo, ISBN 978-955-9098-75-1.
3. Ranjith Bandara (2008) Wildlife Based Recreation and Local Economic Development: A Survey, Karunarathne and Sons, Colombo. ISBN 978-955-9098-77-5.
4. Gunaratne, L.H.P., and Ranjith Bandara (2007) Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management: PREM Extension Study of Sri Lanka, a study was undertaken for Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
5. Ranjith Bandara and Ajith Silva (2001), Framework for Evaluation of Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka: An Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis as a Decision Support, Ministry of Forestry and Environment. Printed by Guneratne Offset Ltd, Colombo, Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-996-567891-0.
6. Ranjith Bandara (1995) The Plantation Based Communities in Sri Lanka: Social Mobility, Migratory Expectation, and Structural Barriers, a study was undertaken for Social Scientists’ Association, Colombo, Sri Lanka
7. Ranjith Bandara (2005) The Effectiveness of Government Subsidies for the Tea Smallholding Sector in Sri Lanka, Study was undertaken for Tea Small Holding Development Authority (TSHDA), Sri Lanka.
8. Ranjith Bandara (2000). Gamidiviya Dinaganima (Taking hold of rural life): A Handbook for Rural Development Planning. Sri Lanka Samurdi Movement. Ministry of Samurdi and Youth Affairs. Printed by Government Press, Colombo, Sri Lanka, ISBN 955-8326-003
9. Gunarathne, L.H.P., and Bandara, R, (2006) Hasthi Uwaduru Rekawaranya: As a Mitigatory Measure of Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka Proceedings of the Launching of the Insurance Scheme, Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall, Published by Agribusiness Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya., ISBN 955-589-093-5
10. Ranjith Bandara (2007), Sustainable Development: A Manual for the skill Development Workshop for the employers/managers, workers/trade union, EU-Sri Lanka Small Projects Facility Programme, Published by Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-1666-02-6
11. Ranjith Bandara (2006) Introductory Microeconomics: A Study Guide (unpublished manuscript prepared as a supplementary reading for first-year undergraduates at the Department of Economics) University of Colombo, Colombo 3

Special tasks

• Member - National Economic Council of the Government of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka from November 2008 to date.
• Member - National Expert Committee on Biological Diversity, 2004 -2005, Ministry of Environmental and Natural Recourses, Sri Lanka
• Member - Advisory Panel on Community Based Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, 2007 - 2008
• Member of Ministerial Advisory Panel on the Agricultural Development, Ministry for Agricultural Development, 2005 - 2007
• Member of the Expert Committee appointed to evaluate the proposed Environmental Conservation  Levy Bill, Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka, 2008
• Chairman to the Sub-Committee appointed to undertake Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) for the Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan, 2004 - 2005, Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka.
• Co-opted Member in the National Steering Committee of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (SGP PTF) for Operational Phase 4, 2008 -2009, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Sri Lanka
• Resource Person - Development of Mahaweli Economy, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, 2006-2007
• Committee Member/ Co-contributor - National Policy Formulation for the Conservation and Management of Elephants in Sri Lanka, 2006.
• Member - Technical Evaluation Committee appointed to evaluate the selection of consultants to undertake a feasibility study on Bibile Sugar Project, Ministry of Plantation Industries, 2006
• Member - Technical Evaluation Committee appointed to evaluate the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the proposed Salinity Barrier at Ambatale in Kelani River, Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka, 2004.
• Member of the Expert Committee appointed to evaluate proposed Environmental Conservation  Levy Bill, Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka, 2008
• Member - Technical Evaluation Committee appointed to evaluate the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project, Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka, 1996.
• Member of the committee appointed for the preparation of the National Species Conservation Strategy (NSCS), Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka, 2005.

Membership in professional organizations

• Life Member - Sri Lanka Association of Economists
• Life Member -  Sri Lanka Association of Agricultural Economists
• Life Member – Sri  Lanka Evaluation Association

Personal life

Bandara in 1993 married Pradeepa Bandara, a Japanese language teacher at a leading girls school in Colombo. They have two sons.

References

1. "Parliament of Sri Lanka". Parliament of Sri Lanka. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Missing or empty |url= (help)
2. "SLF - About". Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.
3. http://ranjithbandara.com/about/
4. "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Ranjith Bandara".
5. https://csbm.edu.lk/our_team/prof-ranjith-bandara
6. "Sri Lanka Financial News | Sundayobserver.lk". archives.sundayobserver.lk.
7. "Awards – Senior Professor Ranjith Bandara".
8. "Publications – Senior Professor Ranjith Bandara".
9. "Research – Senior Professor Ranjith Bandara".
10. "Publications – Senior Professor Ranjith Bandara".
11. "Research – Senior Professor Ranjith Bandara".