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Rathindra Kuruwita

Rathindra Kuruwita

The Diplomat

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Sri Lanka’s Tariff Shock

Sri Lanka’s Tariff Shock

Overdependence on a few markets and a narrow base of products has made the country vulnerable.

14.07.2025 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka’s Shifting Stance on Foreign Research Vessels Risks Its Blue Economy Future

It is under pressure from India and the U.S. to block Chinese research vessels from docking in its ports. Will the crafting of standard operating...

30.06.2025 4

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka’s Middle Path in a Fractured World: Renewing the Bandung Spirit

If nations of the Global South rediscover the habit of solidarity, grounded not in nostalgia but in mutual self-interest, they can negotiate with...

09.06.2025 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

India-Pakistan Crisis: Sri Lanka Navigates Neutrality Amid Strategic Anxieties

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has hit Sri Lankans hard. They are calling for caution in negotiating agreements with India.

22.05.2025 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

NPP Sweeps Sri Lanka’s Local Elections, But Vote Share Plummets

Different issues determine electoral choices in national and local government elections.

09.05.2025 4

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Why Sri Lanka’s Rejection of a Land Bridge With India Is the Right Call

Physical connection to India could dissuade other countries from deepening ties with the island, as it will be seen as New Delhi’s client state.

25.04.2025 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

India Tightens Grip Over Sri Lanka With Defense Pact

Sri Lanka’s JVP-led NPP government has made a dramatic pivot toward India, even utilizing legislative changes it once vehemently opposed.

09.04.2025 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Breaking Decades of Silence, Sri Lanka Revisits the Batalanda Legacy

An interview with a former President that led to public calls for a probe into the Batalanda Commission Report has finally prompted the government to...

24.03.2025 6

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lankan Defense Budget Grows Despite Troop Reductions

Colombo’s selection of partners for weapons and training will be a significant strategic decision for the NPP government, which India views as...

10.03.2025 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

China’s 6th-Generation Fighter: Potential Game Changer for Air Superiority in Asia?

China is signaling technological prowess and a readiness to reshape regional security architectures.

25.02.2025 30

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

The Russia-Ukraine War Is Both Challenge and Opportunity for Sri Lanka

By formalizing and regulating the deployment of its ex-soldiers as mercenaries, Sri Lanka could address economic, social, and geopolitical challenges.

13.02.2025 4

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka’s Adani Controversy: Navigating Geopolitics, Transparency, and Sovereignty

The NPP government has announced that it is reviewing the Adani Group’s $442 million wind power projects in Mannar and Pooneryn.

28.01.2025 6

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Japan and China Vie for Influence in Sri Lanka Via Soft Power Strategies

As China refines its strategy on the Indian Ocean island, it is posing a significant challenge to Japan’s long-held influence in Sri Lanka.

27.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lankan President Seals Several Deals in China

China’s Sinopec has agreed to set up an oil refinery with an investment of $3.7 billion in Hambantota.

21.01.2025 5

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

20th Anniversary of Indian Ocean Tsunami: Is Sri Lanka Prepared for Another Natural Disaster?

Two decades have passed since a massive tsunami struck the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day. In Sri Lanka, the tsunami claimed over 36,000 lives and...

23.12.2024 8

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lankan President’s India Visit Energizes Relations

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visit to India marks a significant step in the evolving relationship between the two...

18.12.2024 5

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Why Sri Lanka Must Rethink its Engagement with Adani Group

For the new government, acting upon deals with Adani is more than a legal or economic issue. It is a test of its commitment to fighting corruption.

26.11.2024 4

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Leftist Coalition’s Seismic Victory Reshapes Sri Lanka’s Political Landscape

The National People’s Power won not only a two-thirds majority in parliament but also 21 of the country’s 22 electoral districts.

18.11.2024 10

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

What Underlies China’s Rise in South Asia?

China’s efforts to contain India may be less important than smaller countries’ desire to counterbalance Indian influence.

11.11.2024 5

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

NPP Poised for Victory in Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary Election

The opposition has not fully understood the public demand for change.

23.10.2024 4

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka’s New President Meets India’s Foreign Minister in Colombo

Like his predecessors, President Dissanayake will have to carefully navigate between accommodating Indian demands and resisting overreach.

09.10.2024 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: A New Era of Reform Amid Economic Turmoil in Sri Lanka

The growing support for Dissanayake, a center-left politician who ran on transparency and the working class, is a reflection of Sri Lanka’s broader...

23.09.2024 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

India’s Strategic Stakes in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election

New Delhi is said to be backing Sajith Premadasa of the SJB, a party that is not only more pro-India but also committed to implementing the 13th...

17.09.2024 6

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Which Candidate Is China Likely to Back in Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election?

Sino-Sri Lankan relations have been stronger when left-of-center parties or politicians are in power on the Indian Ocean island.

09.09.2024 2

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Unprecedented Crossovers in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Race

The SLPP, the party of the Rajapaksas, has lost the support of around 130 MPs, 100 of whom are supporting incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

26.08.2024 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita

Why Is Namal Rajapaksa Contesting the Sri Lankan Presidential Election When He’s Likely to Lose?

The SLPP is hoping its strategy of fielding Namal will save the party from decimation in the parliamentary election that is due to follow.

12.08.2024 3

The Diplomat

Rathindra Kuruwita