Scholarship in service
of better policy
Think Tank' whose focus is the study of issues relating to Economic Development, Poverty Alleviation, Conflict Resolution, Women's Empowerment and Environment, through mutual understanding and social cohesion in South Asia.
The South Asia Policy and Research Institute (SAPRI) is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in 2010 under the patronage of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, SAPRI was established with a mandate to promote inclusive policy development, democratic governance, and sustainable peace in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. SAPRI currently undertakes projects focused on youth empowerment, fostering leadership, civic engagement, and opportunities for young people across the region.
Our Vision
SAPRI's vision is to establish an intellectual discourse with the participation of local and regional stakeholders, to recognize matters of regional importance, shared concerns and best practices on topics including Sustainable economic development; Women's empowerment; Protecting the rights of women & children; and building national unity with respect for diversity; and communicating and consolidating the findings, at policy level and through advocacy at community level.
Our Mission
SAPRI envisions sustained community empowerment, building religious harmony; promoting grassroots women in politics; gender equality; eliminating Zero Hunger; and empowerment of youth as well as initiating policy research to identify policy gaps and best means to promote coordinated efforts to improve policy and decision making through links with political and civil society leadership; academia; professionals; the private sector; women and youth.
Board of Directors
Chair : H.E Madame
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the fourth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, from 1994 to 2005. In a political career spanning over three decades, she was elected Chief Minister of the Western Province in 1993 in a landslide victory; Prime Minister in August 1994; Executive President in November 1994, followed by a second term in 1999, both by massive popular votes.
She retired from active politics in 2005, after serving two terms as Executive President. Having inherited in 1994 a government and nation plagued by violent politics, due to the civil war between the government and a separatist terror group, her government re-established democracy, democratic institutions and respect for Human Rights. It also effectively curbed rampant corruption within the State by enacting new laws, institutions and procedures.
Prof. Gamini Keerawella
Senior Professor at University of Peradeniya
Dr. Kamal Hossain
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne
Attorney-at-Law, President's Counsel
Dr Shahid Kardar
Vice-Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan
Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Prof. Gamini Keerawella
Senior Professor at University of Peradeniya
Director
Dr. Kamal Hossain
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Director
Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne
Attorney-at-Law, President's Counsel
Director
Dr Shahid Kardar
Vice-Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan
Director
Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Director
Management Board
Madara Ranmuthugala
Executive Director
Subashini Kaneshwaren
Senior Communications Manager
Former Staff
Daneshan Casie Chetty
Former Executive Director, SAPRI
(2011-2012)
Geetha de Silva
Former Executive Director, SAPRI
(2016-2022)
Maheswary Pathirathna
Former Executive Director, SAPRI
(2024-2025)