Factum Perspectives – Page 7

Factum Perspective – Speech lessons for Lankan leaders from Barbados PM

International DevelopmentNovember 21, 2021453Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Omar Rajarathnam Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley address the COP26 World Leaders Summit in Glasgow 2021 Sri Lankan leaders in recent times have often struggled to effectively advocate for the country’s interest at international forums. The likes of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayewardene and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga during the…

Factum Perspective – Can the West make a difference in Afghanistan

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 19, 2021417Views 0Likes 0Comments

The return of the Taliban & the future of Afghanistan, Can the west make a difference? By Rathindra Kuruwita and Rikaza Hassan The fate of Afghanistan is still up for grabs by the west, but the clock is ticking … fast. The international community watched with a mix of shock, horror and awe as…

Factum Perspective – Has cricket prevented Asia’s nuclear war?

Peace and ConflictNovember 7, 2021387Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vindana Ariyawansa For centuries, competitive sports have been an integral part of human life and society. The evolution of professional sports has paved way for the lucrative club culture in football and basketball. In Cricket, the second most widely played game in the world, matches between countries are most popular and have carry political…

Factum Perspective: Taliban choking on its own fruit

Peace and ConflictOctober 31, 2021407Views 0Likes 0Comments

By M.S.M Ayub Caption - A member of the Taliban walks passed defaced images of women Taliban which captured power in Afghanistan on August 15 after 26 years of fighting from the caves and sacrificing thousands of their cadres maybe thinking what a cakewalk that was in comparison to the governance challenges it has faced…

Factum Perspective: India’s Grand Bargain on 13th Amendment Continues

Regional GeopoliticsOctober 24, 2021289Views 0Likes 0Comments

B y Lakmali Mananperi India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla holds discussions with Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla who was on an official visit to Sri Lanka last week has reiterated the obligations of the Sri Lankan government under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This…

Factum Perspective: “Location – Location – LOCATION” Defence Diplomacy & Indo-Pacific Strategies for SL

Maritime SecurityOctober 17, 2021418Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne ( Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff The former U.S. Indo -Pacific Commander Admiral Harry Harris, delivering his keynote speech at Galle Dialogue 2016 attributed Sri Lanka’s strategic importance to the US on three factors; “Location, location and location”. These words by Admiral Harris…

Factum Perspective: Breaking down The Pandora Papers

International DevelopmentOctober 11, 2021495Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Chamara Sumanapala Before October 3 this year, most of us had heard about only one Pandora. The Greek mythology character that opened up a box and released all the vices that are present in the society. On October 3, another Pandora made headlines – a collection of documents carrying financial details named “Pandora…

Factum Perspective: Yohani, Menike Mage Hithe and Sri Lanka’s long road in Cultural Diplomacy

Regional GeopoliticsOctober 2, 2021678Views 1Like 0Comments

By Asoka Handagama Yohani and Satheeshan's rendition of Menike Mage Hithe goes viral Yohani De Silva’s cover of Menika Mage Hithe has gone viral, putting little known Sri Lanka on the map among pop music fans around the globe. Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Priyanka Chopra are all praise for the song. Famous…

Factum Perspective: X- Press Pearl Fire – Has the Polluter Paid Sri Lanka yet?

Maritime SecuritySeptember 29, 2021311Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lakmali Manamperi x-Press Pearl burning off the coast of Colombo The X-Press Pearl fire; the worst-ever marine disaster to occur in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters is being swept under the carpet with the rise of the health emergency in the country. Environmental rights activists have consistently shed light on the issue to seek compensation for…

Factum Perspective: Why are foreign exchange reserves important for an economy?

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentSeptember 19, 2021637Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr R.H. S. Samaratunga Discussions about Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange (Forex) reserves have made headlines in the past few months. What are foreign currency reserves and how does a country benefit from maintaining good forex reserves? Forex reserves areforeign-currency deposits held by country’s central banks and/or monetary authorities. It also includes gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and International Monetary…

Factum Perspective: Emotional intelligence in strategic policy articulation

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 13, 2021558Views 0Likes 0Comments

J R Jayewardene and the Treat of Peace for Japan By Karu Paranawithana Caption – J.R. Jayawardene addresses the San Francisco Conference September post-1951 is an important month in Japan-Sri Lanka relations. Why? On 6 September this year (2021) Japan celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, an outcome…

Factum Perspective: Myanmar declares war against own military

Peace and ConflictSeptember 7, 2021409Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr Ranga Kalansooriya The D-Day announcement by the Acting-President of Myanmar’s underground National Unity Government (NUG) Duwa Lashi La today, September 7 officially declared a protracted civil war in the Southeast Asian nation. The development is expected to take the shape of a nation-wide hide-and-seek guerilla warfare over the coming years. The head…