Factum Perspectives

Factum Perspectives: Sovereign AI: A Myth or Reality?

Regional Geopolitics, Techplomacy21 hours ago144Views 2Likes 0Comments

By Devmini Bandara and Prihesh Ratnayake Introduction It's 2026, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. From AI powered Chatbots to autonomous weaponry - AI is embedded in the systems that shape how people learn, work, communicate, access services, and even fight wars. US and China are the leaders in frontier AI models but the latter…

Factum Perspectives: Port City Colombo: Beyond Tax Incentives

International DevelopmentJuly 19, 2026242Views 2Likes 0Comments

By Mohamed Ali Sri Lanka's most ambitious foreign direct investment project, Port City Colombo, is currently focused on attracting foreign investment to accelerate its infrastructure development. In September 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, introduced new regulations under Gazette No. 2454/62 to establish a more…

Factum Perspectives: Crisis, Information Gaps, and Disinformation: Lessons from Sri Lanka’s Deadly Negombo Prison Riot

Information IntegrityJuly 12, 2026269Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dulanjaya Mahagamage A deadly clash at Sri Lanka’s overcrowded Negombo Prison on July 5, 2026, has killed 28 including 8 prison officers, and injured over 100. The government of Sri Lanka and law enforcement agencies have contained the violence at the prison-offline, but they are struggling with containment of online violence. The incident shows…

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, 20251KViews 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, 20251KViews 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, 20251KViews 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, 20252KViews 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, 20251KViews 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, 20251KViews 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, 20251KViews 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…