Factum Perspectives

170 articles published

Factum Special Perspective: Will Trump Tariffs Signal Trade Re-Alignment?

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentAugust 6, 20251KViews 1Like 0Comments

By Dinouk Colombage The recently announced tariff rates by US President Donald Trump have left many countries either unimpressed or breathing a sigh of relief for what some would describe as merely “a stay of execution.” 69 trading partners have been presented with revised tariffs, ranging from 50 to 10 percent, with the median being…

Factum Perspective: Lions, enchantresses, and princesses – The Mythic DNA of the Sinhalese Origin Story

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictAugust 3, 2025986Views 0Likes 0Comments

Vinod Moonesinghe The chapters relating to the Sinhalese settlement of Sri Lanka in the Mahavamsa have sparked debates over its historicity, often polarising scholars. However, neither side understands the text as a historical narrative interwoven with mythological elements, reflecting broader Indo-European traditions. It should be remembered that the author of the Mahavamsa (like the slightly…

Factum Perspective: After the Ruling – X-Press Pearl in Perspective

Climate and environment, Maritime SecurityJuly 27, 2025955Views 1Like 0Comments

By Lavanga Derangala The X-Press Pearl maritime disaster off the coast of Colombo in 2021 continues to provoke serious legal, environmental, and political questions, especially surrounding the controversial decision to pursue civil litigation in Singapore rather than in Sri Lanka. While the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka delivered a historic ruling in a Fundamental Rights…

Factum Perspective: Green Promises, Old Powers – Democratizing Renewable Energy Transitions in Sri Lanka and beyond

Climate and environment, Regional Geopolitics, Science and Technology, UncategorizedJuly 20, 20252KViews 6Likes 0Comments

By Verangika Upananda As South Asia grapples with rising energy demands, economic uncertainties, and commitments under international climate agreements, it is increasingly poised to adopt renewable energy as the path forward. However, the energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy is fundamentally a political rather than a technical or financial one. In Sri Lanka,…

Factum Perspective: International Humanitarian Law and the “Norms” of War

Peace and ConflictJuly 13, 2025789Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya The International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1863. The organization is now more than 162 years old. A three-time Nobel Peace Prize Laureate – in 1917, 1944, 1963 – it operates in over 100 countries. It is not just a neutral umpire during times…

Factum Perspective: Caught in the Crossfire – Sri Lanka Amid the India-Pakistan Conflict

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJuly 6, 20251KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Hirun Matheesha Two months ago, Sri Lanka found itself in a particularly delicate diplomatic position as a result of the sharp rise in tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attacks. Sri Lanka has long taken pride in remaining non-aligned with rival regional powers. Yet throughout its modern history, it has been caught…

Factum Perspective: David V Goliath – Mamdani’s Social Media Masterclass

Tech Cooperation, UncategorizedJune 29, 2025794Views 1Like 0Comments

By Chenuka Elwitigala Forget TV ads and big donors – a smartphone, a subway ride, and a meme or two were all it took for Zohran Mamdani to topple a political titan in one of America’s most watched races. Zohran Kwame Mamdani an immigrant turned US citizen made the debut to politics in 2021 when he was…

Factum Perspective: Can Israel Sustain a Long War Against Iran?

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJune 22, 2025794Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe On June 13, 2025, Israel launched an air assault on targets in Iran, managing to terminate with extreme prejudice several top Iranian commanders and scores of civilians. However, this did not decapitate the Iranian military, which responded with a barrage of missiles. These hit military targets, including “Israel’s Pentagon”, its central military…

Factum Perspective: Pageant diplomacy and women’s empowerment – Pleasing yet paradoxical

History and CultureJune 15, 2025976Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Chathushika Wijeyesinghe The recently concluded Miss World 2025 contest sparked a discussion in Sri Lanka, seemingly for two reasons. The first reason was the pre-hyped publicity given by the organizers. This hype lasted up to eight months. The second reason is that, after many years, Sri Lanka had its hopes high for the Sri…

Factum Perspective: Navigating China’s Role – Fostering the Blue Dragon Strategy in the Indo Pacific Region

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJune 8, 2025846Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kividi Koralage The Indo-Pacific region is an expansive and strategically significant area that stretches from the eastern coast of Africa, across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, and extends to the western and central Pacific Ocean. This region encompasses a diverse array of countries, including those in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia…

Factum Perspective: The curious case of the “Online Safety Act”

Science and Technology, Tech CooperationJune 1, 20251KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Darshatha Gamage The Online Safety Act No 9 of 2024 stands as one of the most debated and contentious pieces of legislation in Sri Lanka’s recent history. Gazetted on September 15, 2023, under the directive of the Ministry of Public Security, the Act was introduced with the stated objective of preventing the misuse of…

Factum Perspective: The Meaning of Bandung in our Times

History and Culture, International Development, Peace and ConflictMay 25, 20252KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Ramindu Perera This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1955 historic Afro-Asian Conference convened in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. The conference brought together delegates from 29 countries representing Asia and Africa. Most of them were newly independent states, having recently emerged from colonial rule. During the conference, delegates deliberated on the need…