Strengthening Evidence-Based Policy and Lawmaking in Sri Lanka Regulatory Impact Assessment and Post-Enactment Review as Instruments of Regulatory Governance

Modern regulatory systems play a critical role in shaping economic growth and social welfare.However, inefficient regulations increase compliance costs, generate unintended consequences, and erode public trust in governance. This article evaluates the potential institutionalization of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and Post-Enactment Review (PER) within Sri Lanka’s legislative framework. Shaded historically by formal procedures rather than systematic economic evaluation, the Sri Lankan legal system faces significant evidence-based policymaking deficits. These are compounded by constitutional barriers, specifically Article 80(3), which restricts judicial and legislative review of laws post-enactment. This article analyzes international precedents (UK, EU, Australia, Canada), outlines sectoral case studies in labor and cyber regulation, and proposes five concrete institutional pathways to transition Sri Lanka’s regulatory landscape into a citable, accountable, and evidence-driven ecosystem.