Call for Proposals: Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant 2021

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) is inviting proposals for the Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant 2021. The grant is an annual, merit-based grant awarded to an outstanding undergraduate studying in a Sri Lankan university.

It aims to promote policy entrepreneurs among undergraduates by encouraging policy-relevant, rigorous and innovative socio-economic research.

The grant was established in 2018 to honour Dr. Saman Kelegama’s legacy of independent research and public policy engagement in socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. Dr. Kelegama was the Executive Director of the IPS from 1995 to 2017.

Fourth-year undergraduates studying economics or a related subject in a University Grants Commission approved university or higher education institution in Sri Lanka are eligible to apply. Proposals must be written according to the guidelines provided and emailed to nilmini@ips.lk on or before the submission deadline of 31 March 2021.

The recipient will be expected to produce a Policy Discussion Brief in six months of receiving the grant. The research report can be written individually or jointly with an IPS senior researcher.

The beneficiary will be awarded a one-time research grant of Rs. 150,000 to carry out the proposed research and a three-month internship at the IPS. The recipient will be able to seek guidance from senior researchers and benefit from IPS resources to complete the proposed study during the internship. To allow students from all over Sri Lanka to benefit from this opportunity, the terms of the internship will be flexible.

Important Dates

End of March – Submission of Proposals

End of April – Announcement of Finalist

Mid May – Announcement of the Winner

Further information is available at: https://www.ips.lk/saman-kelegama-memorial-research-grant/