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You are here: OUSL / Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences / Dept. of Social Studies

Dr. Achinthya Koswatta

Ph.D (Swinburne University of Technology) Melbourne, Australia. Visiting Ph.D. Fellow (United Nations University-WIDER), Helsinki, Finland. Masters in Economics-M.Econ. (University of Colombo), Sri Lanka. B.A. Hons Economics (University of Perdeniya), Sri Lanka.

Senior Lecturer (Gr. II)

Department of Social Studies
  • Colombo Regional Center, 1st Floor (Building No 14), Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Office: +94 (0) 112881300, Ext: 2408
  • hmkos@ou.ac.lk

My journey in economics began with a Bachelor’s degree, followed by a Master’s and then a Ph.D., all driven by my passion for understanding how economies work. Now, as a Senior Lecturer, I teach economics and analyze economic trends. I leverage large and complex datasets such as bilateral trade data, administrative datasets, and patent data. By employing advanced econometric techniques, I extract insights from these complex data structures. Ultimately, my goal is to use these insights to inform evidence-based policy decisions that drive sustainable economic development.

Academic Expertise:

I’ve shared my knowledge through various conference presentations, authored journal articles and monographs, and played a significant role in shaping the curriculum at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). Within their Economics modules alone, I’ve authored over 30 sessions covering a wide range of topics, from the philosophical foundations of economics to international economics, urban economics, and principles of econometrics.

Econometrics, International Development Economics, Economics of Innovation

International Development Economics, Climate Change, Environmental Economics

Programme Coordination:
Environmental Economics and Management, Centre for Environmental Studies & Sustainable Development, OUSL

Course Coordination:
DSP9502 Environmental Economics and Management

DSP9314 Development Project Planning

DSU4334 International Economics

DSU4333 Development Economics

Research Grants:

Team Research Grant, 2024-2025 – Team Leader
Gamani Corea Foundation, 55 Horton Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
To lead a research team focusing on export competitiveness of Sri Lanka, funded by the foundation’s research grant.

Team Research Grant, 2019-2020 – Team Member
Intellectual Property Office (IP Australia), Australian Government, 47 Bowes Street, Woden ACT 2606, Australia.
Participated as a research team member on a project focusing on intellectual property and innovation.

Ongoing Research:

The Importance of Different Institutions in Promoting Exports from Developing Countries : A Panel Data Gravity Trade Model Approach

The Impact of Delayed IMF Assistance on Exchange Rate Stability: A Forecasting Analysis

Exports, Economic Growth, and Institutional Quality: A Nexus Analysis

Innovation-Driven Exports and Institutional Quality: Empirical Insights from Developing Economies

URLs:  

https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/unuwpaper/wp-2022-83.htm

https://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/sljbe/article/view/3982

https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports_publications/the_impact_of_design_rights_on_australian_firms.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/Curve-Exposure-Analysis-Effective-Exchange/dp/365968774X

Link to the PhD Thesis:

https://figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/thesis/Institutions_exports_innovation_and_economic_growth_in_developing_countries/26298424?file=47667055

Selected Text Books:  

Koswatta, A. and Edirisinghe, N.D. 2018. Principles of Econometrics, Open University Press, Open University of Sri Lanka.

Morais, S.N. and Koswatta, A. 2016. International Economics, Open University Press, Open University of Sri Lanka. Online Course available at E-learn, OUSL Learning Management System.

Vidanapathirana, U., Morais, S.N. and Koswatta, A. 2016. Philosophical Foundations of Economics, Open University Press, Open University of Sri Lanka. Online Course available at LearnOUSL, Open University of Sri Lanka Learning Management System.

Selected Conference Presentations:  

7th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (SAEC), Dhaka, Bangladesh. January 2024.

Asia Pacific Innovation Conference, Zhenjiang, China, December 2021.

United Nations University, WIDER Seminar Series, Helsinki, Finland, June 2022.

CTI Workshop presentation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, August 2022.

7th East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) International Convention, Sunway University, Malaysia, August 2022.

Conference Papers (Accepted):  

Asia-Pacific Conference on Economics & Finance (APEF 2024), Singapore Atrium, Singapore, December 2024.

International Research Conference, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, December 2024.

Workshop on Analytical Modelling Approaches to Understanding Democracy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, August 2022.

Asia Pacific Innovation Conference, Incheon, South Korea, October 2022.

Selected Journal Articles:  

Koswatta, Achinthya, (2022), Can domestic institutions affect exports and innovation?: Mediation effects of institutional quality on manufacturing sector exports and innovation in developing countries, No wp-2022-83, WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER), https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2022-83.

Kollmann,T., Koswatta, A., Palangkaraya, A. and Webster,B. 2020. The Impact of Design Rights on Australian Firms. IP Australia Economic Research Paper 09.

Koswatta, A., Kollmann, T., Palangkaraya, A. and Webster,B. 2020. Valuing Designs: The Economic Impact of Design Rights in Australia. IP Australia Valuing Designs Report No 01.

Guruge, M., Koswatta, A., Silva, S. 2020. Key Determinants of Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction of the Middle East Inbound Tourist to Sri Lanka. Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research. Vol.4.

Koswatta, A. 2019. Economy of India: Lessons and Priorities. The Catalyst- Journal of Management, Baddi University, India. Vol.4, Issue I.

Guruge, M., Koswatta, A. and Silva, S. 2019. Fiscal Policy and the Economic Growth: A Comparison Between Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lankan Journal of Business Economics. Vol.8, Issue I.

Koswatta, A. 2018. Currency Wars in Asia. Journal of Accountancy and Finance, Wayamba University Sri Lanka. Vol.4, Issue I.

Koswatta, A. 2017. Fifty Years of Sri Lankan Economy. Professor Vidanapathirana Felicitation Volume, The Open University of Sri Lanka.

Koswatta, A. 2016. Public Spending and Economic Prosperity: Special Reference to Post Independence Sri Lanka. The Open University Annual Academic Sessions.

Koswatta, A., Sivarajasingham, S. 2014. The J curve Exposure: Analysis of the Effective Exchange Rates. LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co.

Koswatta, A. 2014. Money and Inflation. The Open University Annual Academic Sessions.

Koswatta, A. 2013. The Volatility of Real Effective Exchange Rate of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Economic Researc Symposium, December 2013.

Koswatta, A. 2013. The J curve Exposure. The Open University Annual Academic Sessions.

Lifetime Member, Alumni Association, World Institute of Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), United Nations University, Helsinki, Finland, since 2022.

Member, Alumni Association, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, since 2023.

Mentor, Alumni and Industry Mentoring Club, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, since 2024.

Treasurer, Open University Teachers Association for 2023-2024, and a member of the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) since 2018.

Discussant : 7th East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) International Convention, Sunway University, Malaysia, 2022.

Post-Graduate Dissertation Examiner, Masters of Economics (MEcon), University of Colombo, since 2024.

Examiner, Diploma in International Relations, Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS), since 2024.

Reviewer and Evaluator, HSS Student Research Symposium, since 2017.

Reviewer, Vavuniya Journal of Business Management, since 2023.

Reviewer, Open University of Sri Lanka Journal (OUSL Journal), since 2024.

Reviewer : International Open University Research Sessions 2023 and 2024.

DVC Research Writing Award, 2022
Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Awarded for outstanding academic writing as part of doctoral research.

Visiting Ph.D. Fellowship, Spring 2022
United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Katajanokanlaituri 6 B, 00160 Helsinki, Finland.
Awarded for advanced research on institutional economics and global development.

Doctoral Research Scholarship, 2019
AHEAD Project (Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development), funded by the World Bank Group, Sri Lanka.

Doctoral Research Waiver Scholarship, 2019
Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Full tuition waiver granted to conduct the Ph.D. research.

Nominated for the Iain Wallace Research Medal, 2023
Nominated by the Ph.D. external examiner for the prestigious Iain Wallace Research Medal, recognizing exceptional postgraduate research contributions.

Professional Expertise / Licenses and Certificates: 

International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS – May, 2024), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and WTO in cooperation with UNCTAD.

Manage Successful Impact Evaluation Surveys Course (June, 2022) , The World Bank’s Development Impact (DIME) Department, The World Bank Group, IBRD- IDA.

Manage Successful Field Research, DIME Analytics Course, (June, 2023), The World Bank’s Development Impact (DIME) Department, The World Bank Group, IBRD- IDA.

Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

Reproducible Research Fundamentals Course (December 2023), The World Bank’s Development Impact (DIME) Department, The World Bank Group, IBRD- IDA.

Effective Research Writing (April 2022), United Nations University, World Institute of development Economic Research, Helsinki, Finland.

Operations of the Central Bank and the Monetary Law Act , certified by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Preparing the Manuscript, certified by Elsevier Publishing.

BSafe Securing Awareness Training, United Nations Department of Safety & Security.

Using Proper Scientific Language in Research, certified by Elsevier Publishing.

Post-Graduate Supervision: 

Available to supervise Masters & Doctoral students as Principal/Co Supervisor.

Interested Areas: Poverty and inequality, education and human capital development, the role of institutions and governance, infrastructure and development, technology and innovation for development, climate change and development, conflict and fragile states, and urbanization and development

Honors Supervision: Available to supervise honors students.

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Phone: +94 11 288 1000