Factum Perspectives – Page 9

Factum Special Perspective: The elections in Türkiye

International Development, Peace and ConflictMay 31, 2023651Views 1Like 1Comment

By Aavin Abeydeera Enjoying its position as the middleman between Europe, the Middle East, and greater Asia, Türkiye’s elections have always made it to the front page. Should an election swing to the far right, the European Union suddenly goes on red alert. Should an election swing to the far left, the Middle East criticizes…

Factum Perspective: Thai elections – A challenge to the military

Regional GeopoliticsMay 28, 20233KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran In the May 14 elections to Thailand’s House of Representatives, the youth-led progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) emerged as the single largest group, getting 151 seats of the 500 up for grabs. The Pheu Thai party got 141, the Bhumijaithai 71, the United Thai Nation 36, the Democrat 25, and the…

Factum Special Perspective: Taiwan as a tool in the Indo-Pacific

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMay 10, 2023966Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya During a recent conference at the Milken Institute, US Congressman Seth Moulton contended that if the Chinese army invaded Taiwan, the US should not hesitate to blow up Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Moulton’s remarks were immediately noted by Taiwanese authorities. On Monday, May 8, the country’s Minister of National…

Factum Perspective: Pakistan’s economic storm and lessons for Sri Lanka

Health and Economic Cooperation, Regional GeopoliticsMay 29, 2022803Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Muhammad Aftab Alam Covid19-related restrictions have devasted the world’s most vulnerable economies. The situation has essentially worsened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, crushing countries whose Gross Domestic Product depends on exports of single-source goods and services such as tourism, imports of essential goods such as fuel and gas, and sustained inflows…

Australia under Albanese: A return to form?

Regional GeopoliticsMay 24, 2022597Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya Anthony Albanese is now officially the 31st Prime Minister of Australia. The fourth Australian Labor Party leader to win the country’s premiership since World War II, Albanese has given every indication that his policies will be different from those of his predecessor, Scott Morrison. These obviously include foreign relations. Considering recent geopolitical…

Factum Perspective: Foreign policy for the next 12 months

Regional GeopoliticsMay 17, 2022786Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya and Zeenath Ayub Barely 10 minutes after his appointment as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung congratulated Ranil Wickremesinghe on Twitter, emphasizing the need for political stability. Although the jury is still out on Mr Wickremesinghe and whether his appointment will pacify those asking for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s…

Factum Perspective: Indo-Filipino lessons for crisis-hit Sri Lanka

Regional GeopoliticsMay 1, 2022678Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr Ranga Kalansooriya and Zeenath Ayub Caption: Then Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, wife Imelda Marcos with President Ronald Raegan in the White House 1981 Sri Lanka’s economy is in shambles. Exacerbating this is a political deadlock between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who are exchanging pleasantries…

Factum Perspective: Sharing power: From Madurai to Anuradhapura

Regional GeopoliticsApril 24, 2022697Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya Sri Lanka’s ties with India have been tenuous, at times friendly but very often lukewarm. Since of late, however, the dynamics have changed, dramatically. Perhaps for the first time since independence, the island has forged amicable and longstanding ties with its neighbour to the north. Since last year, India has provided around…

Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka braces for tougher times as IMF talks begin

Health and Economic CooperationApril 17, 2022678Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr M. Ganeshamoorthy Facing its worst crisis since independence, Sri Lanka’s economy has only just begun to experience the repercussions of imprudent policymaking. The government’s announcement of the preemptive unilateral default of $51 billion announced last week has sent the country’s credit ratings catapulting. The closure of the stock exchange for five working…

Factum Perspective: Eurasian integration is a pre-requisite for de-dollarizing Sri Lanka

Health and Economic Cooperation, Regional GeopoliticsApril 10, 2022754Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Shiran Illanperuma The NATO-Russia conflict playing out in Ukraine has brought to the fore long-simmering international tensions. These include the role of the US Dollar as the global reserve currency, and the power of the US government to unilaterally exclude nations that challenge its dominance from international trade, by sanctions and bans from international…

Factum Perspective: The case for a credible interim government in Sri Lanka

Peace and ConflictApril 3, 2022513Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Chandani Kirinde Sri Lanka is making international headlines once again. There are growing calls for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint an interim government to address the urgent economic problems faced by the people, after protestors approaching his residence over a fuel crisis, power cuts, food shortage and mounting inflation clashed with police on…

Factum Perspective: MRCC – a step forward in India’s growing influence on Sri Lanka

Maritime Security, Regional GeopoliticsMarch 27, 2022948Views 0Likes 0Comments

By LP Fresh on the heels of India’s one billion US dollar credit facility granted to support Sri Lanka’s ailing economy; news broke of cabinet ministers of Sri Lanka granting approval for the proposal to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Sri Lanka. Aided by a grant of the Indian government worth six…