Factum Perspectives – Page 9

Factum Perspective: The BRICS, SCO, and the emerging Multipolar order

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 8, 2023664Views 1Like 0Comments

By Shakthi de Silva Of late, headlines have been dominated by news of the BRICS deciding, at its 15th Summit in Johannesburg, to add six new members from 2024. The news should not necessarily come as a surprise, as the original members, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, agreed during the 14th BRICS…

Factum Perspective: Marine science research in Sri Lanka – Pitfalls and Potentials

Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 3, 2023961Views 0Likes 2Comments

By Rear Admiral Y. N. Jayarathna (Retd) Given recent media reports, mostly Indian, marine science research appears to have become a hot topic yet again. Whilst debates linger over this, I wish to share some of my thoughts for readers to understand these issues from a Sri Lankan point of view. I consider this important,…

Factum Perspective: Cricket, politics, and power

Sports DiplomacyJuly 2, 2023907Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera Since its inception as an international sport, cricket has held the position of being a sport detached from real political meaning. On the pitch, nothing matters, except for the skill with bat and ball. Sports like football, for instance, have always had connections with external political factors, and any game, no matter…

Factum Perspective: Right to Life in the Sri Lankan Constitution – Potentials and Possibilities

UncategorizedJune 4, 2023996Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lakmali Bhagya Manamperi In Sri Lanka, the right to life had long been waiting for constitutional recognition. Only last year, with the most recent constitutional change, did Sri Lanka recognize the inalienable, unrestricted right to life. However, there has been no substantive discussion about this development. The rhetoric needs to be brought to limelight,…

Factum Special Perspective: The elections in Türkiye

International Development, Peace and ConflictMay 31, 2023680Views 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, 2023991Views 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, 2022820Views 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, 2022620Views 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, 2022803Views 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, 2022692Views 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, 2022718Views 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…