Factum LK – Page 5

Factum Perspective: Scientific literacy – Are we there yet?

Science and TechnologyJanuary 2, 2023560Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sachie Panawala In its report in 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) defined scientific literacy as an understanding of how the knowledge of science changes the manner one can interact with the world, and the way it can be used to accomplish broader goals. Kathleen…

Factum Perspective: Peace on Earth, the message of Christmas?

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictDecember 25, 2022650Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe With the expansion of proselytizing Christian empires in the centuries before the second millennium, Christianity became a world religion. As Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta said, "When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened…

Factum Perspective: Buddhism in the Cold War

History and Culture, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 19, 20221KViews 0Likes 2Comments

By Chandani Kirinde What prompted the US government to put in place a “Buddhist policy” in Southeast Asia during the Cold War and how successful were these clandestine efforts at using a predominant religion of the region to counter the spread of communism? And did Sri Lanka play a role in shaping the US policy of co-opting Buddhists…

Factum Special Analysis: Emerging Markets and International Sovereign Bonds

Health and Economic Cooperation, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 15, 2022780Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kasun Thilina Kariyawasam A total of USD 1,737.2 billion has been invested in the sovereign debt of emerging markets over the last 12 years. As a result of the high interest rates, emerging markets (EMs) paid 63% of the total interest on the bonds. Since 2020, Argentina, Zambia, and Sri Lanka have defaulted on…

Factum Perspective: Indonesia’s new draft criminal code

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 5, 2022640Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran In a sharp turn towards authoritarianism and archaic religiosity, Indonesia’s parliament is expected to pass, later in December, a new Criminal Code that will extend the ambit of blasphemy, ban criticism of State Institutions and criminalize cohabitation and sexual relations outside wedlock. The proposed code, which smacks of Wahhabi Islam, is…

Factum Perspective: Are China and Russia imperialist?

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 28, 2022845Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Shiran Illanperuma Recent geopolitical and economic developments disrupting the US-led unipolar world order have renewed debate on the concept of imperialism. In the post-war period, the term was politically deployed by National Liberation movements around the world, and worker states in the Communist bloc, to describe the policies and actions of the West (namely…

Factum Special Perspective: Four shortfalls in Budget 2023

UncategorizedNovember 23, 2022582Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sunil Abhayawardhane While delivering his budget speech in parliament, President Ranil Wickremesinghe asked perhaps the most important question he could have: “Where did we go wrong?” President Wickremesinghe asked the same question in 1989, when he was the Minister of Industries. Though the answer to it is as self-evident as it was back then,…

Factum Perspective: IORA and Climate Change

Climate and environment, Health and Economic CooperationNovember 22, 2022813Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran Set up in 1997, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It is also meant to help member countries meet the many challenges posed by climate change. The IORA has 23 Member States and…

Factum Perspective: The geopolitics of the Jewish Homeland

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 15, 20221KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe The history of Palestine is fraught with controversy, obscured by religion. Emigration and conversion to Christianity and Islam reduced the Jewish population: by the 1516 Ottoman Conquest, they comprised 2% of the population, with Muslims 85% and Christians 11%. Ottoman Palestine thrived, exporting soap, olive oil, sugar, barley, cotton and, from the…

Factum Perspective: Why Xi Jinping is not the “New Mao”

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 7, 2022727Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Rathindra Kuruwita China changed its Constitution in 2018, abolishing term limits on the only top position it had limits on, the presidency. Following this move, certain commentators have been insisting that President Xi Jinping has transformed into a new Mao Zedong. This argument is based on their reading of certain events at the 20th…

Factum Special Perspective: Sri Lanka and Türkiye – Renewing an old friendship

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 4, 2022696Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya The Sri Lankan government has tasked the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute to conduct a review of the country’s foreign relations. While officials have not yet come out with details, the review is set to include a reconsideration of Sri Lanka’s ties with various countries, in light of recent international developments. The Executive Director…

Factum Perspective: Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister

Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedOctober 31, 2022919Views 0Likes 0Comments

Cartoon by Awantha Artigala By Uditha Devapriya Though he lacks a popular mandate and the Opposition, plus some in his own party, are calling for an election, Rishi Sunak has forged ahead to create history. He is not Britain’s first ethnic minority Prime Minister, but he is the first Asian and the first “colored” person to…