Health and Economic Cooperation

Factum Perspective: Trump Tariffs and Sri Lankan Agrifood Exports to the US

Health and Economic CooperationApril 12, 2025143Views 2Likes 0Comments

By Lahiru Thilakarathna Is the Sri Lankan agrifood export sector in trouble due to the ongoing tariff encounters with the United States, and if so, to what extent? The answer depends on several factors, and a precise quantitative forecast of the effects is not possible given insufficient data. However, a general forecast of outcomes can…

Factum Special Perspective: Trump Tariffs Signal Increase in Geopolitical Tensions

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentApril 9, 2025273Views 1Like 0Comments

By Dinouk Colombage Coated under the guise of economic rebalancing, the US tariffs have been described as a complete disregard of the rule-based order (RBO) that has governed global politics since the conclusion of the Second World War. On April 2, Donald Trump unveiled what he termed “reciprocal tariffs” for over 90 countries including China,…

Factum Special Perspective: Modi in Sri Lanka

Health and Economic Cooperation, Regional GeopoliticsApril 2, 2025304Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to land in Sri Lanka on Friday, April 4. Over the next two days he is expected to engage with the Sri Lankan government over several agreements and pacts, encompassing trade, health, education, energy, and of course defense. News reports point to six agreements in…

Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka Foreign Policy 2025 – Laying Low and Continuing the Balancing Act

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentFebruary 16, 2025649Views 1Like 0Comments

By Sachintha Pilapitiya Sri Lanka has often stressed its principle of "friendship towards all, enmity towards none" in its diplomacy. In 2024, under two ideologically contrasting governments, Sri Lanka reflected the possibility of maintaining this foreign policy goal intact. In this article, I conduct a short review of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy in 2024, followed…

Factum Perspective: Superstition and Science in Governance and Global Health

Health and Economic Cooperation, Peace and ConflictJanuary 5, 2025291Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Gerard Dinith Mendis In an age where scientific breakthroughs define the trajectory of human progress, a concerning global trend has emerged: skepticism toward science and the resurgence of superstitious rhetoric in political leadership. Leaders are increasingly leaning on pseudoscience and cultural mysticism, often at the expense of evidence-based policymaking. This shift not only threatens…

Factum Perspective: Mexico and North America – Trade Challenges and Opportunities in a Volatile Global Environment

Health and Economic CooperationDecember 15, 2024298Views 1Like 0Comments

By Aarón Antonio Arreola Burgos International trade is undergoing profound changes driven by geopolitical tensions, protectionist dynamics, and an increasing regionalization of supply chains. In this context, trade relations between Mexico and North America play a pivotal role, with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as the cornerstone of economic integration. However, the prospect of a…

Factum Perspective: Sri Lanka’s Economic Future – Lessons from Malaysia, the Role of Bretton Woods Institutions, and the potential of BRICS Membership

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentNovember 17, 2024293Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kividi Koralage Malaysia’s economic journey during the Asian financial crisis (1997-1998) and its resistance to International Monetary Fund assistance offer significant lessons to Sri Lankans today, as Sri Lanka navigates its economic challenges marked by high debt, inflation, and declining foreign reserves. Understanding Malaysia’s approach to crisis management can provide key insights into balancing…

Factum Perspective: Out of the abyss and into BRICS

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 27, 2024762Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Shiran Illanperuma From October 22 to 24, the 16th BRICS summit was held in Kazan, Russia. Alongside the core group members of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, this year saw the formal addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. During the summit, another 13 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,…

Factum Special Perspective: Last Chance for Sri Lanka?

Health and Economic CooperationSeptember 26, 2024419Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Seneka Abeyratne Sri Lankans have received two massive shocks in recent years. The first was the COVID-19 global pandemic of 2020. The second was the economic collapse of 2022, resulting in debt default, a drastic devaluation of the currency, rampant inflation, and a severe shortage of essential goods including food, fuel, cooking gas, and…

Factum Special Perspective: The Political Economy of the Northern Province

Health and Economic Cooperation, Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedAugust 21, 2024695Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Abishek Ranjan The economic condition of the Northern Province does not receive as much attention as the political situation in the region. The Northern Province, which comprises five districts, has a poor economic record compared to other provinces of Sri Lanka. Elections have only served to undermine these issues, since both mainstream and minority…

Factum Special Perspective: Modi’s Moscow visit and the dualism in Indian foreign policy

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedJuly 17, 2024599Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Ramindu Perera “Is there any reason why we in India should inherit the age-long rivalry of England against Russia? That is based on the greed and covetousness of British imperialism and our interests surely lie in ending this imperialism and not in supporting and strengthening it” Jawaharlal Nehru (1929) The recent meeting between Indian…

Factum Perspective: Russia and North Korea – A marriage of convenience?

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJune 30, 2024402Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz News outlets were recently in a frenzy over Putin’s recent visit to North Korea. Reports of a pact between the Russian premier Vladimir Putin and the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) initially led to much speculation. These rumors were not without a basis. It was later revealed…