BANGKOK – Sri Lanka’s prominent independent think tank, Verité Research, has taken center stage at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, championing innovative solutions to global debt and governance crises. The week-long summit, which concluded on October 18, saw the Sri Lankan delegation play a pivotal role in shaping dialogues on economic reform, fiscal accountability, and sovereign debt management.
The Verité Research delegation, led by Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel, alongside Executive Vice President Inoshini Perera and Lead Economist Raj Prabu Rajakulendran, participated in a series of high-level engagements with international policymakers, development partners, and global investors.
A centerpiece of the delegation’s contribution was the presentation of “Governance-Linked Bonds,” a pioneering sovereign debt instrument originally designed by the think tank for Sri Lanka. During a dedicated roundtable, the experts showcased how this world-first mechanism—which ties debt terms to specific governance outcomes—could be adapted as a blueprint for other nations currently grappling with unsustainable debt burdens.
Beyond debt restructuring, the delegation raised critical concerns regarding the erosion of democratic oversight during IMF-led economic recovery programs. In a second roundtable discussion, Verité Research emphasized the importance of safeguarding national institutions, warning against reform processes that risk bypassing parliamentary scrutiny, judicial independence, and the authority of national watchdog bodies.
“Our objective is to ensure that while countries pursue necessary fiscal stabilization, the core pillars of democratic governance and institutional accountability are not sacrificed in the process,” the organization noted.
The delegation’s influence extended to the Civil Society Policy Forum, where they co-sponsored two sessions. These forums scrutinized fiscal transparency across the Asia-Pacific region and challenged international stakeholders to adopt more robust, equitable responses to countries facing severe economic distress. Furthermore, the team engaged in closed-door sessions focused on “hidden fiscal risks”—an urgent issue regarding liabilities that often remain obscured from official public debt reporting.
Beyond their policy advocacy, the delegation acted as a key bridge between Sri Lanka and the global financial community. The team briefed international sovereign debt investors on the current economic outlook and the progress of Sri Lanka’s ongoing IMF program. They also provided extensive media commentary on the intricacies of the country’s fiscal structures, positioning Sri Lanka as a case study for both the challenges and the potential for reform in the developing world.
Based in Colombo, Verité Research has cemented its reputation as a vital, interdisciplinary advisor to governments and international institutions across Asia. Their high-profile presence in Bangkok reinforces the organization’s role as a thought leader, transforming local economic experiences into actionable global policy frameworks during a time of heightened volatility in the international financial system.
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