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Author page: Factum Perspectives

Factum Perspective: Facing the Far Right – Rethinking Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy

By Nimendra Mawalagedara The recently imposed US tariffs on Sri Lanka are not merely an economic challenge - they are a signal of a transformation in the contemporary global political landscape. These tariffs should not be understood merely as trade measures, but also as political symbols that reflect the Trump administration’s broader diplomatic style, characterized…

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Factum Special Perspective: Trump Tariffs Signal Increase in Geopolitical Tensions

By Dinouk Colombage Coated under the guise of economic rebalancing, the US tariffs have been described as a complete disregard of the rule-based order (RBO) that has governed global politics since the conclusion of the Second World War. On April 2, Donald Trump unveiled what he termed “reciprocal tariffs” for over 90 countries including China,…

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Factum Perspective: Katchatheevu and the Indian Media – Some Candid Reflections

By Rear Admiral Y. N. Jayarathna (Retd.) The St Anthony’s Church festival in Katchatheevu recently wrapped up for the year. As has been the case for the past many years, both Sri Lankan and Indian Central governments worked hard to ensure that the festival took place with due respect for religious formalities, involving devotees from…

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Factum Perspective: Decolonisation Delayed – The Ongoing Struggle for the Chagos Islands

By Hannes Romare Exclusive to Factum from EPIS Thinktank on Foreign and Security Policy The Chagos Islands, or The British Indian Ocean Territory? Is the Chagos archipelago a part of Mauritius or does it belong to the United Kingdom? These questions will soon get a definite answer as a deal on the status of the…

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Factum Perspective: Starlink in the Global South

By Brayan Jayawardhana Two weeks ago, on March 10, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sirkorski took to X to respond to Elon Musk’s claim that Ukraine’s “entire front line” would collapse if he turned Starlink off. Sirkorski, who seemed agitated if not angry, tweeted that Poland was paying for Starlink’s use in Ukraine, and that if…

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Factum Perspective: From Foreign Aid to Local Solutions – Can Sri Lanka Fill the USAID Gap?

By Niruni de Mel Imagine a rural community in Sri Lanka where a once-thriving agricultural initiative suddenly comes to a halt. Farmers who relied on USAID-funded fertilizer support are left struggling, and a crucial supply chain begins to crumble. This is one example of the tangible impact of USAID’s withdrawal from Sri Lanka – a…

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Factum Perspective: Tindals, Dhonis, and Sampans – The interconnectedness of historical Indian Ocean commerce

By Vinod Moonesinghe In the days of the British Raj, bullock carts were used to transport goods inland and to bring coffee beans (and later tea) from the montane plantations down to Colombo, for shipment overseas. The distance from the coffee plantations to the main seaport of Galle caused the colonial government to override the…

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Factum Perspective: Hallyu’s Hold – South Korea’s Cultural Conquest

By Deshani Samaragunarathna The world has been Hallyu-woodised! From the global phenomenon of K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink (and their passionate fandoms) to the record-breaking success of K-dramas like Squid Game, South Korea has rapidly emerged as a global force, shaping not only the economic and political landscape but also significantly influencing popular culture…

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Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka Foreign Policy 2025 – Laying Low and Continuing the Balancing Act

By Sachintha Pilapitiya Sri Lanka has often stressed its principle of "friendship towards all, enmity towards none" in its diplomacy. In 2024, under two ideologically contrasting governments, Sri Lanka reflected the possibility of maintaining this foreign policy goal intact. In this article, I conduct a short review of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy in 2024, followed…

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