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

International Development, Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedNovember 9, 2023656Views 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, 20231KViews 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, 2023993Views 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, 2023936Views 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, 20231KViews 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, 2023817Views 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…

Factum Special Perspective: Four shortfalls in Budget 2023

UncategorizedNovember 23, 2022688Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sunil Abhayawardhane While delivering his budget speech in parliament, President Ranil Wickremesinghe asked perhaps the most important question he could have: “Where did we go wrong?” President Wickremesinghe asked the same question in 1989, when he was the Minister of Industries. Though the answer to it is as self-evident as it was back then,…

Factum Perspective: Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister

Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedOctober 31, 20221KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Cartoon by Awantha Artigala By Uditha Devapriya Though he lacks a popular mandate and the Opposition, plus some in his own party, are calling for an election, Rishi Sunak has forged ahead to create history. He is not Britain’s first ethnic minority Prime Minister, but he is the first Asian and the first “colored” person to…

Factum Perspective: Bowling for Sri Lanka

UncategorizedOctober 17, 2022991Views 3Likes 0Comments

By Zeenath Ayub The Sri Lankan men’s cricket team clinched a win at their first warm-up match against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2022 early this week, ahead of its inaugural group stage encounter with Namibia, where they faced defeat. Regardless of the latter, Captain Dasun Shanaka and his team have been exceptional in…