Factum LK – Page 6

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

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 7, 2022862Views 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, 2022832Views 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, 20221KViews 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…

Factum Special Perspective: “Completely friendly” – The history of Türkiye-Sri Lanka relations

History and Culture, International Development, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 28, 2022851Views 0Likes 0Comments

Statue of Alâeddin Keykûbad / Wikimedia Commons By Vinod Moonesinghe The country we now know as Türkiye has a long history, holding within its borders the remains of the world’s first city, Çatalhöyük. Our knowledge of much of ancient foreign relations comes from the records of the Hittite empire, based at Hattusa. The great city of…

Factum Perspective: Turkiye’s South Asia policy – An assessment

Health and Economic Cooperation, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 24, 2022568Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran On the face of it, opting for “strategic autonomy” in a multi-polar world makes sense. It releases a country from the shackles of pre-existing alliances and enables it to take its decisions independently. It enables a country to navigate among antagonistic international groups and strike the best bilateral bargains. In the…

Factum Special Perspective: Culture as diplomacy in Sri Lanka

History and CultureOctober 19, 20221KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Malwatu Oya Soya / Courtesy FilmFreeway By Uditha Devapriya The Malwatu Oya is most important and the most historic of the rivers in Sri Lanka. Its history is woven into the history of the country and its culture. Malwatu Oya Soya, in that respect, is a documentary not merely about the river, but the lives of…

Factum Perspective: Bowling for Sri Lanka

UncategorizedOctober 17, 2022972Views 3Likes 0Comments

By Zeenath Ayub The Sri Lankan men’s cricket team clinched a win at their first warm-up match against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2022 early this week, ahead of its inaugural group stage encounter with Namibia, where they faced defeat. Regardless of the latter, Captain Dasun Shanaka and his team have been exceptional in…

Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka’s Vanishing Votes at the UN Human Rights Council

Peace and ConflictOctober 9, 20221000Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka On the 6th of October 2022, a resolution on Sri Lanka was adopted at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, by a vote of the 47 members of the Council, with 20 votes for the resolution, 7 against, and 20 abstentions. Resolution HRC/51/L1/Rev1 is the 9th resolution to…

Factum Perspective: The President elaborates on the geopolitics of two oceans

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 2, 2022984Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya In a recent speech at the National Defence College, President Ranil Wickremesinghe made comments on the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean, some of which throw light on aspects of his approach to foreign policy - and others that point to some grey areas. “The geopolitics of the Indian Ocean has unfortunately made…

Factum Perspective: The IMF agreement is only the beginning of a tough journey

Health and Economic CooperationSeptember 26, 2022734Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran On September 1, Sri Lanka succeeded in arriving at a staff-level agreement with the IMF for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of US$ 2.9 billion, spread over a four-year period. This facility was given following the submission of a credible plan for a thorough reform of the ruined economy by the…

Factum Perspective: Mikhail Gorbachev and the Vertical Downfall of Soviet Socialism

Peace and ConflictSeptember 18, 2022885Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr Dayan Jayatilleka With the Ukraine war, which is actually a proxy war between NATO and Russia, in full swing, one cannot but help look back at how Russia got here. I had tried to pay a call on Mikhail Gorbachev while serving as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia, but had failed in my…

Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka’s crisis and the dilemmas of small states

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 12, 2022719Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya Sri Lanka’s economic woes have not cast a shadow over its complex foreign relations. On August 16, the southern port of Hambantota welcomed the Yuan Wang 5, a research vessel from China. While Colombo had asked for a deferral of the visit, it later relented and allowed the ship to dock until…