PROFILE | Department of Economics & Statistics

Staff Profile

Dr. K.M.R. Karunarathna
Senior Lecturer

Department of Economics & Statistics
Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya
Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

	+94 (0)81 239 2622
	+94 (0)71 806 1246
	mudithakr@yahoo.com

Biography

Muditha Karunarathna holds a doctorate in Economics from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, a M.Sc and a B.A. (Honours) in Economics from the University of Peradeniya, where she is working as a Senior Lecturer in Economics. Her research mainly includes in the field of Environmental Economics, Resource Economics, Development Economics and Agricultural Economics. She has published more than 10 research papers in well-known international journals which include Journal of Forest Economics, Energy Policy, Journal of Smart Economic Growth, Sri Lanka Economic Journal and Journal of Economic Research. She is the co-author of two text books and the author of one text book. She has published 2 book chapters and presented few research papers in national and international conferences.

Educational Qualifications

Ph.D. in Economics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia (2012)
M.Sc. in Environmental Economics, PGIHS, University of Peradeniya.(2004)
B.A. in Economics, University of Peradeniya (2000)

Positions Held

2019 - to date : Coordinator, Master of Development Practice Programme, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya
2019 - to date : Leader, MDP Academic Steering Committee (ASC) (South Asia/Central Asia Region), Global Association, Master’s in Development Practice
2018 - to date : Editorial Board Member, Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences , PGIHS, University of Peradeniya
2019 : Coordinator, Peradeniya International Economic Research Symposium
2017 : Editorial Advisory Board Member, PIERS proceeding, Peradeniya International Economic Research Symposium 2017, Vol (5)
2017: Co-Coordinator of the Peradeniya Economics Research Symposium (PERS)
2019 - to date : Senior Lecturer Grade I, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
2012-2019 : Senior Lecturer Grade II, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
2006-2012 – Lecturer (Probationary), Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Visiting Appointments

2002-2004 : Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Memberships & Awards

Dean’s commendation for outstanding doctoral thesis award 2012 Academic Year. QUT Business School, Brisbane, Australia
Award of a Faculty of Business Top-Up Scholarship, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2009-2012)
Award of a Queensland University of Technology Postgraduate Research Award, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2009-2012)
Award of Australian Government International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) (2009-2012)

Research Interests

Environmental and Economics
Resource Economics
Agricultural Economics
Development Economics

Research Publications

2020 - M. Karunarathna, Y.M. Bandara and W. Athukorala. (2020). Valuing External Costs of Road Traffic Congestion: How important they are for transport policy-making? Transport Policy, (Forth Coming)
2019 - W. Athukorala., C. Wilson., S. Manangi and M. Karunarathna (2019). Household demand for electricity: The role of market distortions and prices in competition policy, Energy Policy. 134, 110932
2019- M. Karunarathna (2019). Loss of Manpower due to Road Traffic Congestion in Sri Lanka: A Study in Kandy City. Applied Economics & Business, 3(1) 55 - 69
2019 - Athukorala, W., Karunarathna, M. and S.Y Bandara (2019) The Health Cost of Urban Air Pollution in Sri Lanka: An Empirical Analysis in the City of Kandy. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol 2.(1) :77 -98.
2018 - M. Karunarathna and W. Athukorala (2018).The Determinates of Investments on Floods Mitigation Activities: An Empirical Investigation in Sri Lanka, Journal of Smart Economic Growth, Vol.3(3) :37-59.
2018- Athukorala, W. and M. Karunarathna.(2018). Environmental Challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Study about the Emerging Environmental Issues in Sri Lanka. Applied Economics & Business. 2(2)
2017- M. Karunarathna and Clevo Wilson. (2017). Agricultural Biodiversity and Farm Level Technical Efficiency: An Empirical Investigation, Journal of Forest Economics, Vol. 29(PA): 38-46.
2015 -M. Karunarathna, and W. Athukorala. (2015). Application of Choice Experiment: Theoretical Aspect. Sri Lanka Journal of Economic Research. Vol. 3(2): 31-54.
2015 - Athukorala, W., Karunarathna, M. and M.B. Ranatilaka. (2015). Effectiveness of Education and Monitoring Programs on Improving Technical Efficiency in Rice Production: An Application of a Randomized Control Trial. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics: Vol.17(1): 50-62.
2014- M. Karunarathna (2014). Estimating Technical Efficiency of Vegetable Farmers in Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Economic Research. Vol.2(2): 55-67.
2004- Athukorala, W. and K.M.R. Karunarathna. (2004). The Impact of foreign direct investments on economic growth: evidence from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Economic Journal, Vol. 5(2): 97-134.
2002 -Karunarathna K.M.R. and H.M.Gunatilake. (2002). Socio-Economic factors affecting tree cultivation in home garden in Kandy and Kegalle Districts, Tropical Agricultural Research.: Vol. (14) : 292-303.
2008 - Karunarathna K.M.R. and H.M.N. Herath. (2008). Diversification of Export Sector. O.G. Dayarathna et al (Ed,). Sri Lanka Arthikaya: Nirbadheekarana saha Sanwardhanaya: pp.147-169.
2003 - Karunarathna K.M.R. (2003) “Why State is Necessary for the Economic Affairs?” The Economic Review, Research Division, People’s Bank of Sri Lanka: pp.16-18.
2002 - Karunarathna K.M.R. (2002). Education and Fertility Behavior of Women in Agrarian Community in Sri Lanka. The Eight National Convention on Women’s Studies (CENWOR), Health Session: pp. 1-32.
2002 - Karunarathna K.M.R. (2002). World Food Security and Sri Lanka. The Economic Review, Research Division, People’s Bank of Sri Lanka: pp.52-57.

Books

2019 - M. Karunarathna and W. Athukorala (2019). Essential Mathematics for Social Sciences and Humanities (Sinhala), Sanduni Offset Printers, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
2007- Athukorala, W. and K. M. R. Karunarathna. (2007). Principles of Micro Economics (Sinhala) – Second Edition, Ariya Printers, Warakapola, Sri Lanka.
2005 - Athukorala, W. and K. M. R. Karunarathna. (2005). Principles of Micro Economics (Sinhala)- First Edition, Dharsana Offset Printers, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Book Chapters

2020 - W. Athukorala and M. Karunarathna. (2020). The Social Responsibility of Enterprises Going Out, Chapter 4, Lion Dragon Dance: Practice and Reflection on the People-to-People Dialogues in China and Sri Lanka. pp, 85-106. Zhejiang University Press, China
2018 - M. Karunarathna and Clevo Wilson. (2018). Factors Influencing Farmer's Demand for Agricultural Biodiversity, S. Matsumoto and T. Otsuki (Ed.), Consumer Perception of Food Attributes, Chapter 9, pp:125-142.CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. Boca Raton, London, New York.

Published abstracts in Proceedings

2019- M. Karunarathna, Y. M. Bandara, W. Athukorala and R. Gangahagedara (2019). Loss of Manpower due to Road Traffic Congestion in Kandy City: A Comparison between Different Vehicle Users. This paper was presented at the 6th Peradeniya International Economic Research Symposium (PIERS). PGIHS, University of Peradeniya. Published the paper in proceedings, pp: 76-81.
2017- Abhayaseekara A.T.G. and K.M. R. Karunarathna (2017). Use of the Technical Efficiency in Rice Production for Current Agricultural Issues. This paper was presented at the 3rd Peradeniya Economic Research Symposium (PERS). PGIHS, University of Peradeniya. Published the paper in proceedings, pp: 170-175.
2017- Chathurani K.R.A. and K.M. R. Karunarathna (2017). Factors Affecting Productivity in Tea Small Holding Sector in Sri Lanka. This paper was presented at the 3rd Peradeniya Economic Research Symposium (PERS). PGIHS, University of Peradeniya. Published the paper in proceedings, pp: 176-180.
2015- Werasinghe K.H.S and K.M. R. Karunarathna (2015). Valuing road user’s willingness to pay for reducing traffic congestion in Kandy-Mahaiyywa road development project. This paper was presented at the 3rd Peradeniya Economic Research Symposium (PERS). PGIHS, University of Peradeniya. Published full paper in, Peradeniya Economics Research Symposium (Proceeding), Vol 3: 184-188.
2014 - M. Karunarathna (2014). Estimating Technical Efficiency of Vegetable Farmers in Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka. 3rd International Economic Research Conference, Ruhuna University. Published full paper in proceedings, pp: 313-324.

International Conferences/ Paper presentations

2011- Karunarathna, K.M.R. (2011). Agricultural biodiversity and farm level technical efficiency: an empirical investigation. Presented at the Western Economic Association International's 9th. Biennial Pacific Rim Conference, QUT, Brisbane, April 2011 (jointly with Clevo Wilson & Tim Robinson)
2011- Karunarathna, K.M.R. (2011). Factors influencing farmers’ demand for agricultural farm biodiversity in small-scale farms: an empirical investigation. Presented at the Research Students’ Colloquium 2011, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, October 2011 (jointly with Clevo Wilson & Tim Robinson)

Other publications

2017 - Conservation of Genetic Resources of Crops: Farmer Preferences for Banana Diversity in Sri Lanka. Working Paper Series No. 115-17: South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)

Other Credentials

2019 - Participated the 38th Biannual Research and Training Workshop (December 13-16, 2019) at Kunming, China. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2019 - Participated the 9th Annual Master of Development Practice(MDP) summit 2019, organized by the Global Association of Master's in Development Practice Program and held at Teri University, New Delhi, India.
2018 - Participated the 36th Biannual Research and Training Workshop (December 09-12, 2018) and Training Workshop (December 13-15, 2018) at Kathmandu, Nepal. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2018 - Participated the 35th Biannual Research and Training Workshop (June 12-13, 2017) at Gall, Sri Lanka. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2018 - Successfully completed the Summer School in Environmental and Resource Economics (From 30 April to 11 May 2018 ) in AITCC, Pathumthani, and in Swutel Hotel, (From 12- 17 May, 2018) Bangkok, Thailand. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2017 – Participated the 34th Biannual Research and Training Workshop (December 13-14, 2017) at Kathmandu, Nepal. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2014 - Successfully completed the course on “Environmental Valuation Method” (September14 -17, 2014) at Maldives National University, Maldives. Organized by The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
2010- Successfully completed a short course on Topics in Micro econometrics with Prof. William Greene, The University of Queensland, Australia: July 7, 8 and 9, 2010.
2009 - Successfully completed a short course on Efficiency and Productivity Analysis with Prof. Chris O’Donnell, The University of Queensland, Australia: September 29 - October 1, 2009.
2009 - Successfully completed a course on Regression Analysis with Discrete and Censored Dependent Variables Using Stata with Prof. Colin Cameron, The University of Queensland, Australia: July 22, 23 and 24, 2009.
2004 - Successfully completed the short course in Contingent Valuation Method and Choice Modeling: Honoi, Vietnam: May 9 - 14, 2004 (Organized by the EEPSEA)
2004- Successfully completed the short course in Environmental and Resource Economics: Chiang Mai, Thailand: March 29 – April 22, 2004 (Organized by the EEPSEA)
2002- Successfully completed two Ph.D. short courses in Welfare Economics and Environmental Valuation at the Department of Economics, Götenborg University, in Sweden: From Sept. 2nd to Nov. 8th, 2002

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Department of Economics & Statistics

Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

Biography

Educational Qualifications

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Visiting Appointments

Memberships & Awards

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