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

History and Culture, UncategorizedMarch 10, 2024148Views 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: Russia Faces Polls in March

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedFebruary 29, 2024138Views 1Like 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera In March 2024, the Russian Federation will hold its eighth presidential election. More than 114 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballot in choosing their next executive president. Of course, these elections are set to the backdrop of several key sociopolitical events, with the Russo-Ukrainian War at the forefront. Amongst…

Factum Perspective: India’s Contemporary Geopolitical Landscape

Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedJanuary 27, 2024213Views 1Like 0Comments

By Amantha Gunarathna With a burgeoning population, a robust if tumultuous democratic system, and a thriving technology sector, India has positioned itself as a key player on the world stage. The country's proactive foreign policy, regional leadership initiatives, and engagement in multilateral forums contribute to its rising prominence. As a bridge between East and West,…

Factum Perspective: Women’s Rights, Sexual Offenses, and Violence against Women in Sri Lanka and South Asia

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedJanuary 7, 2024400Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Britney Martil The spotlight on women's rights and the pervasive issue of violence against women has grown exponentially since the mid-1990s. Recognized as a formidable obstacle to equality, development, and peace, violence against women is deeply entrenched in historical inequalities between men and women. At both international and national levels, unprecedented attention has been…

Factum Perspective: The Aragalaya, a Year Later – Part II

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedDecember 16, 2023459Views 0Likes 0Comments

By N. Sathiya Moorthy Not many evening speakers at Gotagogama spoke about anything other than the immediate privations, requiring the exit of the Gota leadership and government. The knowledgeable among them were already discussing among them on the edges of the protest site, as to the available alternative after Gota’s exit, which they too had…

Factum Perspective: The “Aragalaya”, a Year Later – Part I

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedDecember 9, 2023414Views 0Likes 0Comments

By N. Sathiya Moorthy Over a year later, a public debate has begun to brew over whether last year’s Aragalaya was a budding social revolution or a botched-up security lapse, with the armed forces in particular (wantonly?) failing to discharge their duty. In a way, it is only an academic exercise or a post…

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

International Development, Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedNovember 9, 2023370Views 0Likes 0Comments

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,…

Factum Special Perspective: Politics, economics, and S. B. D. de Silva

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, UncategorizedJune 15, 2023747Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kanishka Goonewardena “Capitalism is nothing if not the displacement of politics by economics.” This provocation by Fredric Jameson, the leading Marxist critic in the US, offers a fine insight with which to aim for some clarity amidst the confusion concerning the present crisis of Sri Lanka – which the Aragalaya has revealed, but…

Factum Perspective: Right to Life in the Sri Lankan Constitution – Potentials and Possibilities

UncategorizedJune 4, 2023678Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lakmali Bhagya Manamperi In Sri Lanka, the right to life had long been waiting for constitutional recognition. Only last year, with the most recent constitutional change, did Sri Lanka recognize the inalienable, unrestricted right to life. However, there has been no substantive discussion about this development. The rhetoric needs to be brought to limelight,…

Factum Perspective: The impact of Vesak on international relations

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedMay 7, 2023639Views 1Like 1Comment

By Vinod Moonesinghe The festival of Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment (nibbana), and demise (Parinibbana) of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, also known as Sakyamuni Buddha. It may be compared to a combined festival of Christmas, the Theophany, and Easter for Christians, or the Prophet's birthday, Hajj, and Ramazan for Muslims. Also known as Buddha Day,…

Factum Perspective: A new dawn for the Middle East

Health and Economic Cooperation, History and Culture, International Development, UncategorizedApril 3, 2023686Views 0Likes 2Comments

By Deshani Samaragunarathna ألا هو لا دان (Ala ho la dan) Look who we are, we are the dreamers - We make it happen 'cause we believe it Look who we are, we are the dreamers - We make it happen 'cause we can see it Here's to the ones that keep the passion…

Factum Perspective: Mission Accomplished? – The War in Iraq at 20

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedMarch 21, 2023472Views 0Likes 0Comments

Vinod Moonesinghe At the beginning of 2003, the United States seemed on top of the world. The sole superpower, its ideologues spoke openly of America as the “global policeman”, fighting multiple major wars enforcing a “Pax Americana.” That March, the US invaded Iraq, setting in motion a sequence of events which resulted in today’s increasingly…