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International Development

Factum Perspective: Thailand Strengthens Economic Ties with Sri Lanka

By Flavia Gunarathna In a significant stride towards economic revitalization, Thailand and Sri Lanka signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking an important moment in diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations. As Sri Lanka grapples with its worst financial crisis in decades, the FTA is anticipated to play a crucial role in fostering…

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Factum Perspective: Combating Nitrogen Pollution in South Asia – Cooperation as a Tool

By Amanda Gunarathna Nitrogen pollution, a growing concern in environmental science, refers to the excessive release of nitrogen compounds into ecosystems, predominantly originating from human activities such as industrial processes, agriculture, and fossil fuel combustion. While Nitrogen is an essential element for life, an excess of it can lead to detrimental consequences for ecosystems…

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Factum Perspective: Climate Change Diplomacy in Sri Lanka

By Minoli Gunarathna Climate change refers to long-term, major changes in the global climate. Given the increasingly dire global climate situation, international cooperation must be prioritised. Climate diplomacy is a strategy approach that highlights the need of incorporating climate goals and addressing climate-related concerns at the highest level of diplomatic interaction and across multiple policy…

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Factum Special Perspective: The Role of International Fellowships in Bridging Knowledge Gaps and Spurring Entrepreneurship

By Tahira Sheriff In a world brimming with challenges, the power of unity, collaboration, and shared purpose shines ever more brightly. Such is the saga of my journey through the Professional Fellowship Exchange Program organized by the US Department of State. Over five weeks, I figured among 20 exceptional fellows from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India,…

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Factum-Arutha Perspective: IMF and Governance

The failure to tackle poor governance has long since been a thorn in the side of Sri Lanka’s developmental efforts. Governance issues linked to the economy have become especially relevant in recent times since demands for system-wide change expressed during the 2022 crisis remains fresh in the minds of many. But despite eloquent campaign promises,…

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Factum Special Perspective: Global Scholarships, Geopolitical Strife

By Vinod Moonesinghe Growing US security concerns about China's rapid technological progress have led to increased scrutiny of academic programs involving China or Chinese scholars. This has led to the resignation of experts such as Denis Simon from the University of North Carolina, who left due to restrictive government policies. Simon complains about university fears…

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Factum Perspective: “Fair Multipolarity” gains momentum at the 20th Valdai Conference

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka The Valdai Discussion Club, established in 2004, held its 20th meeting in Sochi, Russia from October 2 to 5, seeing over 140 “leading experts” from 42 countries attending the conference despite ongoing hostilities between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin attended the conference for the plenary session on…

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Factum Perspective: The President in New York

By Uditha Devapriya The last week has been very busy for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. First he travelled to Cuba, in time for the G77 Plus China Heads of State Summit in Havana from September 15 to 16. Largely dismissed by the Western press, the Summit saw the participation of delegations from more than a…

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Factum Perspective: The Rise of Africa

The emergence of new economic powerhouses within Africa has been a defining recent phenomenon. These emerging powers are playing an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the continent's economic landscape, challenging established norms, and spearheading transformative development. Emerging powers like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia are driving this change in Africa's trajectory, along with other…

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Factum Perspective: The BRICS, SCO, and the emerging Multipolar order

By Shakthi de Silva Of late, headlines have been dominated by news of the BRICS deciding, at its 15th Summit in Johannesburg, to add six new members from 2024. The news should not necessarily come as a surprise, as the original members, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, agreed during the 14th BRICS…

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Factum Perspective: Child Labor in Sri Lanka – A Stolen Childhood and an Uncertain Future

By Britney Martil In the serene landscapes of Sri Lanka, a dark reality persists beneath the surface, where the laughter of children is silenced by exploitation and deprivation. The term “child labor” takes on an alarming interpretation since it refers to employment that destroys the innocence of childhood and jeopardizes their potential and dignity. Child…

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