Factum Perspectives

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

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, History and Culture, Maritime Security, Regional Geopolitics1 day ago136Views 0Likes 0Comments

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…

Factum Perspective: Starlink in the Global South

Peace and Conflict, Science and Technology, Tech Cooperation, UncategorizedMarch 23, 2025135Views 0Likes 0Comments

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…

Factum Perspective: Duterte Under Arrest

Peace and ConflictMarch 16, 2025440Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Jayson Cainglet At 09:20 (Manila Time) on the morning of March 11, 2025, the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court served an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. 14 hours later, the plane that would bring Mr Duterte to the Hague in the Netherlands left the country,…

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

International DevelopmentMarch 10, 2025238Views 0Likes 0Comments

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…

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

History and Culture, UncategorizedMarch 3, 2025225Views 0Likes 0Comments

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…

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

History and Culture, UncategorizedFebruary 23, 2025144Views 0Likes 0Comments

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…

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

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentFebruary 16, 2025505Views 1Like 0Comments

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…

Factum Perspective: From Ceasefire to Lasting Peace?

Peace and ConflictFebruary 9, 2025207Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dulmi Thimansa After 15 months of relentless conflict between Israel and Palestine, a much-anticipated ceasefire agreement was reached last month. The agreement was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, alongside two US Presidents, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The ceasefire commenced on January 15, following its approval by…

Factum Perspective: Putting Jimmy Carter in Perspective

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictFebruary 2, 2025194Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz Jimmy Carter Jr., the 39th President of the US, was born on October 1, 1924. He stands out in American history as the longest-living former president. Carter’s accession to the Oval Office in 1977 came after a decisive victory over Gerald Ford, which marked a rupture in US politics. Carter’s presidency was…

Factum Perspective: The Ecological Implications of the California Wildfires

Climate and environment, International DevelopmentJanuary 27, 2025248Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Erik Solheim The recent devastating wildfires in California offer a stark and tragic illustration of the escalating climate crisis. These fires, which have claimed several lives and displaced thousands, are among the most destructive in history. They are leaving behind heartbreaking images of destroyed homes and shattered lives. The disaster is not an isolated…

South Asia’s excess Nitrogen heavily contribute to climate crisis – More coordination needed on N2 management

Press ReleaseJanuary 26, 2025176Views 0Likes 0Comments

Says Sri Lanka - Pakistan joint paper on nitrogen pollution January 26, Colombo / Pakistan: The prevalence of excess nitrogen in the soil, water and air in South Asia arising from dominant fertilizer related agriculture practices and unchecked use of fossil fuel to drive farming and economies is hurting the region and contributing to an…

Factum Perspective: Redefining Truth in the Digital Age – Challenges, Consequences, and the Path Forward

Peace and Conflict, Tech CooperationJanuary 19, 2025267Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Darshatha Gamage Philosopher Bertrand Russell, in his seminal work On the Nature of Truth, posed two enduring questions: "In any inquiry into the nature of truth, two questions meet us on the threshold: In what sense, if any, is truth dependent upon mind? Are there many different truths, or is there only the Truth?"…