Kapila Premarathne

Kapila Premarathne is a Sri Lankan academic, agricultural economist, and policy researcher whose work focuses on climate-resilient agriculture, environmental economics, sustainable rural livelihoods, and agricultural policy. He serves as Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Agricultural Systems at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, where he combines academic leadership with interdisciplinary research. He also served as one of the Youth Representatives to the Sectoral Oversight Committees of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka, contributing to national policy discussions on agriculture, environmental sustainability, and rural development.

Kapila Premarathne holds an M.Phil. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Peradeniya and a Bachelor of Laws from The Open University of Sri Lanka, reflecting his multidisciplinary expertise in economics, agriculture, and legal studies. Prior to joining academia, he worked as a Project Officer at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka and gained professional experience with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as an intern. His research integrates economic analysis with climate adaptation, natural resource management, and evidence-based policymaking to address pressing challenges facing agricultural communities.

An active researcher, Kapila Premarathne has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, policy briefs, and conference papers on climate information services, agricultural economics, ecosystem valuation, biodiversity conservation, food security, and rural livelihoods. Beyond academic publishing, he regularly contributes policy analyses and opinion pieces to leading national and international platforms, including the London School of Economics South Asia Blog, University of Oxford Education South Asia – ThinkPieces, and major Sri Lankan newspapers.

In addition to his research, Kapila Premarathne has led and contributed to numerous national and international development projects at various levels which were funded by organizations including the World Bank, IFAD, UNEP, GEF, the European Union, and HSBC. Through his work in teaching, research, policy engagement, and leadership, he remains committed to advancing climate-smart agriculture, sustainable resource management, and evidence-based public policy for resilient agricultural systems and rural development.