Neighbourhood Studies
Sri Lanka
Who will be Sri Lanka’s Next President?

Even the day before people vote to elect the next Sri Lanka President on January 8, 2015, the question who will become the next President remains without a clear answer. If we go by media write ups it is going to be won on point- count rather than a

Elections in Sri Lanka and Evolving Relationship with India

The coming elections for the Presidency in Sri Lanka have heightened the political activity. President Mahinda Rajapakse is seeking a third term based on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution (carried out in 2010 to overcome the two-term

Indian Foreign Policy Being Undermined from Within

The political controversy generated over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s participation in the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka on November 15 deepens mounting concerns about our foreign policy being increasingly determined not by our overal

India, Sri Lanka – The Tamil Question

The island country of Sri Lanka is geographically part of the Indian sub-continent and though the Palk Strait does provide a narrow stretch of water physically separating Sri Lanka from India, not far below the surface is the land link provided by Ra

Stance on Sri Lanka a Blunder

Our conduct at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at Geneva on the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka on human rights violations of the tamilian population has raised questions about the coherence, maturity and objectivity of our

Anti-Lanka vote was a bad idea

India has once again joined the US and other western countries to censure Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on the Tamil issue. This is objectionable on many counts. For many years we have fought our own battles w

Sri Lanka, UNHRC Resolution and India

Sri Lanka is facing second successive resolution in as many years at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) this month. Exactly last year at the 19th session of the UNHRC, a US-sponsored resolution was passed against the island state. Backed by 24 co

Sri Lanka: And Now the Judiciary

When the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed an order removing the island state’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike on 13 January 2013, the consolidation of power was complete. In January 2010, Rajapaksa won the presidency

The State of India-Sri Lanka Relations: Ethnic Issue as an Irritant

In the recent days, the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has figured in at least four issues pertaining to Sri Lanka: protests against training of Sri Lankan defence personnel in the state, threats to Sri Lankan pilgrims touring the state, turning

Sri Lanka: Where is the Reconciliation?

Sri Lanka has recently submitted the Universal Periodic Report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the status of implementation of recommendations made by Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). The Report cites draftin

Contact Us