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Factum Perspectives: Data Centers, Climate Change, and Sri Lanka’s Digital Infrastructure Crossroads

Climate and environment, Science and Technology5 days ago110Views 0Likes 0Comments

This article is the first in a multi-part series, by Factum, exploring the shifting landscape of global digital infrastructure and climate change. By Dulanjaya Mahagamage The global data center industry has experienced such a rapid and profound transformation that it has surpassed both regulatory frameworks and public understanding. Historically, digital infrastructure was viewed…

Factum Perspectives: Sri Lanka’s Tax Reform Landscape 2026: A Critical Assessment

Health and Economic CooperationMay 24, 2026418Views 0Likes 0Comments

Sri Lanka’s Tax Reform Landscape 2026: A Critical Assessment of the April 29 VAT Amendment Bill, VAT and SSCL Distinctions, and the Economic and Social Repercussions By Senior Professor Prasanna Perera Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Context This article critically examines Sri Lanka’s sweeping 2026 tax reform package, focusing specifically on the…

Factum Perspectives: Sri Lanka’s Mass Graves and the Case of Chemmani

Peace and ConflictMay 17, 2026179Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Divya Mascranghe A National Crisis Sri Lanka’s landscape is scattered with mass graves; a largely ignored national crisis that transcends communal lines affecting citizens of all ethnic backgrounds. Mass graves were first reported in post-independent Sri Lanka in 1971 following the People’s Liberation Front (or the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, JVP) uprising and thereafter in 1987 – 1990. Many of the victims of this insurrection…

Factum Perspectives: Fire, Smoke, and the Price of Everything: How the Middle East Ceasefire Lands in Colombo

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMay 10, 2026233Views 1Like 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz A Ceasefire Written in the Sand On 8th April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan. Both sides, however, presented narratives far removed from what had really taken place. Iran claimed that it had forced the United States to the table, while Washington insisted that…

Biased by Design? Chatbots and misinformationin Sri Lanka’s 2025 local elections.

PublicationsMay 7, 2026102Views 0Likes 0Comments

Executive Summary As Large Language Models (LLMs) become more integrated into everyday digital tools, countries around the world are grappling with both their potential and their risks. With the return of local elections in Sri Lanka after nearly seven years, and a new generation of voters increasingly turning to AI-powered chatbots and search engines…

Democracy in Disguise: Inauthentic Online Influence on the 2025 Sri Lanka’s Local Government Elections

PublicationsMay 7, 2026143Views 0Likes 0Comments

Executive Summary Over the past year, DRI has monitored the rise of inauthentic political activity on TikTok during key electoral moments across Europe, identifying accounts that support parties and candidates to artificially boost their visibility and engagement, often in violation of the platform’s own rules. This research has uncovered the presence of murky accounts across…

Factum Perspectives: UAE Leaves OPEC; Signaling A New Global Energy Order?

Regional GeopoliticsMay 3, 2026277Views 1Like 0Comments

By Verangika Upananda Based on recent official announcements and global developments, as of May 1, 2026, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formally withdrawn from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader OPEC+ alliance. This marks a historic shift in global energy politics, bringing an end to the UAE’s membership that…

Factum Perspectives: Brain Drain and the Retention of Skilled Professionals in Sri Lanka

Health and Economic CooperationApril 26, 2026928Views 0Likes 0Comments

Context: Brain drain refers to the phenomenon when educated and skilled people from a developing nation leave their home to build a new life in a developed country. Sri Lanka has already faced this problem before. Nevertheless, following the 2022 economic crisis, the situation escalated to a whole new level. The nation ran short of…

Factum Perspectives: The Narrow Corridor: The Strait of Hormuz and the Long Queues of Dhaka

Regional GeopoliticsApril 12, 2026661Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Nazia Afrin Monami On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening hours of a conflict that is being described as the largest global supply disruption since the 1970s energy crisis. Tehran retaliated. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth…

Narrative Watch: Key Online Narratives Shaping Sri Lanka’s Public Discourse

PublicationsApril 9, 2026164Views 0Likes 0Comments

This report analyses a key online narrative shaping Sri Lanka's socio-political landscape. Using trend monitoring, keyword analysis and observations of influential pages and channels, it explores how digital conversations emerge, spread and influence public opinion. As social media increasingly drives civic and political discourse, understanding these narratives is vital for promoting informed engagement, countering harmful…

Policy Report Recommendations: Mitigating Adverse Impacts Caused By Laws Affecting Online/Digital Publications

PublicationsApril 9, 2026170Views 0Likes 0Comments

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Factum Perspectives: The Exhausted Hegemon: How A Long US-Israel-Iran Quagmire Reorders Global Economic Governance

Regional GeopoliticsApril 5, 2026786Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Gobinath Ponnuthurai As of March 2026, the intensification of the US-Israel-Iran conflict has moved beyond a regional security crisis, evolving into a protracted systemic shock—a “Long Quagmire.” This article argues that we are witnessing the terminal phase of unipolar economic governance. The conflict has created a profound governance vacuum where the West’s ability to…