History and Culture

Factum Perspective: Decolonisation Delayed – The Ongoing Struggle for the Chagos Islands

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, History and Culture, Maritime Security, Regional GeopoliticsMarch 30, 2025269Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Hannes Romare Exclusive to Factum from EPIS Thinktank on Foreign and Security Policy The Chagos Islands, or The British Indian Ocean Territory? Is the Chagos archipelago a part of Mauritius or does it belong to the United Kingdom? These questions will soon get a definite answer as a deal on the status of the…

Factum Perspective: Tindals, Dhonis, and Sampans – The interconnectedness of historical Indian Ocean commerce

History and Culture, UncategorizedMarch 3, 2025253Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe In the days of the British Raj, bullock carts were used to transport goods inland and to bring coffee beans (and later tea) from the montane plantations down to Colombo, for shipment overseas. The distance from the coffee plantations to the main seaport of Galle caused the colonial government to override the…

Factum Perspective: Hallyu’s Hold – South Korea’s Cultural Conquest

History and Culture, UncategorizedFebruary 23, 2025170Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Deshani Samaragunarathna The world has been Hallyu-woodised! From the global phenomenon of K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink (and their passionate fandoms) to the record-breaking success of K-dramas like Squid Game, South Korea has rapidly emerged as a global force, shaping not only the economic and political landscape but also significantly influencing popular culture…

Factum Perspective: Putting Jimmy Carter in Perspective

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictFebruary 2, 2025204Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz Jimmy Carter Jr., the 39th President of the US, was born on October 1, 1924. He stands out in American history as the longest-living former president. Carter’s accession to the Oval Office in 1977 came after a decisive victory over Gerald Ford, which marked a rupture in US politics. Carter’s presidency was…

Factum Perspective: Tourism in Sri Lanka: Learning from Thailand

History and Culture, UncategorizedDecember 29, 2024244Views 1Like 0Comments

By Britney Martil Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on the cusp of a significant revival, driven by a renewed national commitment to leverage tourism as a key pillar of economic recovery. With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and diverse attractions, the country has immense potential to position itself as a global tourism hotspot. The…

Factum Special Perspective: China’s role in global transformation

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, History and Culture, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 24, 2024408Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe We bear witness to a period of accelerated global transformation, with the rise of the East and the relative decline of the West reshaping the global political and economic landscape, benefitting the Global South. China, whose rapid economic growth and expanding influence play a pivotal role in this new era of global…

Factum Perspective: The New Zealand Parliament Meme – What’s Wrong?

History and CultureDecember 8, 2024366Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Mohamed Shafkath On November 14, 2024, a video clip from the parliament of New Zealand surfaced the internet. The video shows Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the youngest MP of the current parliament, representing the Te Pāti Māori tearing up a draft of the Treaty Principles Bill, while performing a haka, the traditional war cry of the…

Factum Perspective: The Tradition of the Monkey King: Peaceful cultural diffusion through the Maritime Silk Road

History and Culture, International DevelopmentSeptember 29, 2024341Views 1Like 0Comments

Vinod Moonesinghe The Tang dynasty (618–907) became a golden age for Chinese poetry, sculpture, and Buddhism. Its capital, Chang’an (modern Xi’an), the starting point of the Land Silk Road, grew into an international hub with traders and embassies from Central Asia, Arabia, Persia, Korea, and Japan. The economy thrived, with rural markets connecting to Chang’an…

Factum Perspective: Human Geopolitics – The Case of the Indian Diaspora

History and Culture, International Development, Peace and ConflictJuly 14, 2024495Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Deshani Samaragunarathna While Rishi Sunak's recent resignation after a disappointing loss may raise questions, it's noteworthy that Sir Keir Starmer, in his first address, specifically acknowledged him as "the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country." This, along with Kamala “Devi” Harris serving as US Vice President, highlights a growing trend of diaspora…

Factum Perspective: “Avurudhu” in South-East Asia

History and CultureApril 14, 2024787Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe This year, Sri Lankans celebrate their traditional mid-April Solar New Year amidst controversy. Known to the Sinhalese as Aluth Avurudhu and to the Tamils as Puthandu, the New Year is marked by the transition of the Sun from the constellation Pisces, known in Sanskrit (the language of Indic astrologers) as Meena Rashi,…

Factum Perspective: Promoting Tourism in Sri Lanka – A Way Forward

History and Culture, UncategorizedMarch 10, 2024847Views 1Like 0Comments

By Nithu Ardithya Despite facing formidable challenges in recent years, Sri Lanka's tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, signaling a promising future for economic recovery and growth. Tourism constitutes around 5% of the nation's GDP. In 2019, the country welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors, resulting in revenue exceeding USD 4 billion. In April…

Factum Special Perspective: US Foreign Policy and the Creation of Israel

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictDecember 28, 2023799Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour wrote a letter to Lord Rothschild, promising support for the creation of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. A week later, the government made public this Balfour Declaration, making it the first public expression of support for the Zionist cause. This caused concern,…