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Factum Perspective: Buddhism in the Cold War

History and Culture, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 19, 20222KViews 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 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 Special Perspective: “Completely friendly” – The history of Türkiye-Sri Lanka relations

History and Culture, International Development, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 28, 2022972Views 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 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…