Factum LK – Page 2

Factum Perspective: Bloodshed averted in Russia

Peace and ConflictJune 26, 2023457Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Rathindra Kuruwita Bloodshed has been averted in Russia, probably to the relief of many who didn’t want further destabilization of the international order. Russia seemed to be on the verge of civil war by Saturday when the leader of the Russian PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced that his forces had taken control of…

Factum Perspective: A Sri Lankan Huck Finn – Martin Wickramasinghe’s “Madol Doova”

History and CultureJune 18, 2023931Views 1Like 0Comments

Martin Wickramasinghe By Christine Hill Smith With a human history going back to 500 BCE, Sri Lanka has endured and occasionally benefited from over 450 years of European colonization, starting in 1505 with the Portuguese, the Dutch East India Company in 1640, and finally the British in the 1790s. It was colonized for its gemstones, cinnamon,…

Factum Special Perspective: Politics, economics, and S. B. D. de Silva

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, UncategorizedJune 15, 2023765Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kanishka Goonewardena “Capitalism is nothing if not the displacement of politics by economics.” This provocation by Fredric Jameson, the leading Marxist critic in the US, offers a fine insight with which to aim for some clarity amidst the confusion concerning the present crisis of Sri Lanka – which the Aragalaya has revealed, but…

Factum Perspective: Reflecting on the X-Press Pearl Case

Climate and environment, Health and Economic Cooperation, Maritime SecurityJune 11, 2023609Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Britney Martil The X-Press Pearl disaster, which unfolded on May 20, 2021, near the coast of Sri Lanka, stands as a harrowing event with profound consequences that have reverberated across multiple fronts. This maritime catastrophe has sparked significant developments in recent times, drawing attention to the gravity of the incident and emphasizing the pressing…

Factum Special Perspective: Reflections on Republic Day

History and CultureMay 22, 2023771Views 0Likes 0Comments

Declaration of the 1972 Constitution / Courtesy: Sirimavo Bandaranaike Museum By Chandani Kirinde In an article published in the Ceylon Daily News of Monday, May 22, 1972, titled “The making of the Constitution”, Dr Colvin R. de Silva, Minister of Constitutional Affairs, wrote the following words. “Today, Ceylon will once more become to the world…

Factum Perspective: Fostering innovation in Sri Lanka

International Development, Tech CooperationMay 14, 2023525Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Malidu Mihisara Aluth alut de nothanana jaathiya lowa nonagi Siga kema beri wunu thana lagii gaya mara gii These lines were written by the Sri Lankan poet and author Cumaratunga Munidasa. A nation that does not innovate, he observes, will never prosper, and will eventually have to beg. I would like to go beyond Munidasa’s reading.…

Factum Perspective: The impact of Vesak on international relations

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedMay 7, 2023661Views 1Like 1Comment

By Vinod Moonesinghe The festival of Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment (nibbana), and demise (Parinibbana) of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, also known as Sakyamuni Buddha. It may be compared to a combined festival of Christmas, the Theophany, and Easter for Christians, or the Prophet's birthday, Hajj, and Ramazan for Muslims. Also known as Buddha Day,…

Factum Special Perspective: The BRICS Bank and Multipolar Multilateralism

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and ConflictMay 3, 2023749Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka South Africa will be hosting the 15th BRICS summit this year from August 22 to 24, under the theme “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.” South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing his National Assembly in this context, said that a strategic priority for his country was…

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives Conduct Dialogue on Indian Ocean Maritime Cooperation

Press ReleaseApril 30, 2023370Views 0Likes 0Comments

Colombo, Sri Lanka April 30, 2023 Factum Sri Lanka, an Asia-Pacific focused think-tank on foreign policy, in partnership with The Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) and The Baani Centre for International Policy, Maldives, held a Trilateral Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean in Colombo on April 30, 2023. The Dialogue…

Factum Perspective: Reviewing a year in crisis

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsApril 30, 20231KViews 7Likes 1Comment

Photo by Dhananjaya Samarakoon By Rumeth Jayasinghe On March 31, 2022, Sri Lankans stormed the streets and held demonstrations in front of the then President’s private residence in Mirihana, demanding his resignation. The protest remained largely peaceful, until police attacked the protestors with tear gas and water cannons. It marked the beginning of a series…

Factum Perspective: Rethinking US-Sri Lanka ties

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, History and Culture, Regional GeopoliticsApril 24, 2023420Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya During a visit to Sri Lanka on December 14, 2015, then US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Designate Thomas Shannon announced the launch of the first US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue. The Dialogue, held in February the following year at Washington , sought to enhance cooperation between the two…

Factum Perspective: Abuses of anti-terrorism legislation – Four case studies

Peace and ConflictApril 17, 2023421Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Deneth Rajapaksha Anti-terrorism laws are designed to defend citizens from terrorist activities and to uphold national security. Unfortunately, in certain cases and certain countries, such laws have been applied to stifle political dissent, crush political opposition, and violate fundamental rights. Since there has never been a universally accepted definition of terrorism, different governments believe…