International Studies Students’ Research Symposium (ISSRS)

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Achieving Holistic Peace beyond a Military Victory: case of Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Gallage, H.
The small island state of Sri Lanka is in a period of revival after the end of a civil war which was fought for several decades. The roots of this conflict traces back to certain administrative decisions of colonizers as well as of successive governments which expanded the conflict into a fully-fledged civil war between the Sinhala majority and the Tamil minority represented by the terrorist organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. After three decades of persistent fighting the war came to closure in 2009 but the question of peacemaking left to answer was perhaps even more challenging. Eight years after the end of war, elements of violence still prevail which not only make it almost impossible to call the peace gained sustainable and holistic, but also probable for a conflict to resurge. Therefore the objective of this research is to analyze the post-war context of Sri Lanka and thereby determine a holistic model of peace which is sustainable beyond the military victory gained back in 2009. The research takes up a qualitative approach and to that end it gathers secondary data that assess the post-war situation of the country. The analysis is largely based on the theoretical analysis of Johan Galtung’s theory of negative and positive peace in relation to post-war Sri Lanka. A careful assessment of the post-war data of Sri Lanka for the period of 2009-2016 suggests that the peace gained following the military victory is negative while lacking peace in its positive, holistic sense. The research findings manifest that although Sri Lanka has been unified territorially its numerous ethnicities are yet to be reconciled into one tightly knitted inclusive society to create the Sri Lankan nation that transcends narrow ethnic disparities. It also concludes that it may require years of commitment and significant upheaval of the attitudes of the public. But if that can be achieved, its results can be relished by many generations to come who shall not be burdened again with the agonies of war.
Rethinking South Asian Integration: An Analysis on Challenges and Prospects of Regional Economic Integration in South Asia.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Abeyrathne, D.M.L.K.
Regional Integration is a process of overcoming barriers that divide neighbouring countries, by common accord, and of jointly managing shared resources and assets. Essentially, it is a process by which groups of countries liberalize trade, creating a common market for goods, people, capital and services. Realizing its importance, the South Asian region has also embarked upon various processes of regional economic integration. The aim of this study is to identify those challenges and prospects of regional economic integration in South Asia which is fraught with difficulties, especially due to a lack of understanding about the very economics of regional economic integration. South Asian regional integration is seemingly confronting many challenges. Although regional integration in South Asia has adopted a kind of institutionalization, it is yet to deliver any concrete outcome. The study is basically based on secondary data collected from different reliable sources of published journals, reports and websites. Throughout the analysis process prevailing barriers have been scrutinized on the basis of which a set of recommendations have been made. Thus, this is dwells upon some of the conceptual issues pertaining to regional economic cooperation in general and specific to the South Asian region. It also documents the progress made in SAARC, the SAFTA trade liberalization and associated mechanisms alongside the nature of safeguards provided for. High-politics and the not-so-conducive regional economic structures hinder any effectual culmination. However, constructivism, as a theory, is given due credence in this study when looking for future prospects. The study highlights the issues, and attempts to offer certain policy directions by analyzing the challenges and identifying the prospects in the on-going integration process. In this respect, developmental perspectives of safeguards are put forth. Some fresh insights on the status of SAARC trade integration process in a dynamic setting are also brought out. The study also highlights the potentials for deeper economic integration in the region. Finally, the study makes an objective assessment of the regional integration process and identifies certain structural constraints that have important policy-implications.
The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism and its Impact on Syrian Crisis.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Liyanage, P.K.
Many of the world leaders and scholars consider Islamic fundamentalism as the newest global threat in the contemporary global society. The rivalry between Communism and the Capitalism has been replaced by a new conflict between the West and the Islamic fundamentalists. Ever since the 9/11 attack, calamities connected with radical Islam movement has spread rapidly worldwide. In the present situation negative implication of this movement is manifested in the infamous “Arab Spring” disrupting the stability of Middle East nations. Syrian Crisis is also an extension of this series of uprisings starting from 2011. It has caused lot of bloodshed and brutal atrocities, as well as the most primitive and savage practices which have made half of the Syrian population to flee the country in terror. The emergence fundamentalist movements like Al-Qaeda affiliated Al –Nusra Front and ISIS have made the Syrian Crisis more complex together with thousand other jihadists and opportunists. Therefore this study prioritizes to find out the negative impact of Islamic fundamentalism on further escalation of the Syrian crisis. The study is based on secondary data gathered through books, websites, research articles, online magazines, journal articles, newspaper articles, and public speeches given by political leaders and intellectuals. The theory of the Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington was utilized to analyze how the rise of Islamic fundamentalism impact on the Syrian Crisis. Based on this theory the study reveals that the clashes have escalated with the increased involvement of fundamentalist movements based on the issues of religion and culture. The research further discloses that rise of the fundamentalist movements in Middle East region and the unstable situation of Syria due to political, economic and sectarian issues has become influencing factors for the development and involvement of these fundamentalist movements in Syrian Crisis. Thus it can be deduced that there is a strong relationship among Islamic Fundamentalism and the Syrian Crisis and it has challenged the security situation of Syria negatively. Since fundamentalism embodies radical ideologies and adopts violence as the central means to promote its goal and establish the new order, the future of Syria seems to be bleak.
Brexit and United Kingdom’s Future.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Fernando, U.G.G.
European Union plays an important role in multilateral organizations in the world. UK has taken a decision to leave EU. This is named as Brexit referendum in 2016. United Kingdom leaves EU for several reasons. This research is meant to find the reasons why UK left the EU and to understand its future prospects. The research has been conducted in a qualitative approach by analyzing secondary data found through academic journals, books, research papers and statistics. The analysis of these data shows several realities concerning this issue. Once a year more than 300000 immigrates are coming to UK because of which UK decreased their job opportunities. Also as a member of the EU, UK pays 350£ million every week. The counter campaign believed that it will be more useful to use the money for the sustainability in National Health Service. While UK staying as a member in EU, it should consider about immigration problems, unless immigration percentage will be more in near future. The former Prime Minister was not able to successfully promote the reasons why UK should continue to be with EU which made his policy decisions quite unreliable. In addition the Golden Brown and Sadiq Khan issue spread the situation to a conflict level. Alen Jonson and Jeramy Corbin were not supported by others. Cameron favouring Bremain campaign by Boris Jonson also tarnished his image. The senior citizens population in UK is high with nationalistic opinions and imperialist thoughts. Due to these reasons the UK should stand as a sovereign state and be independent in political and economic aspects. Considering about the Brexit, there are positive impacts like sovereignty, freedom to go outside the common Agricultural Policy and the booming of the fishing industry. There will also be no more contribution to the EU budget. However there are also negative impacts like a hard hit economy after withdrawing from the EU and safety issues.
Exporting Power: Opportunities and Challenges for India in Fulfilling Sri Lanka’s Energy Demand.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Fernando, A.L.B.
India is actively embracing the potential of becoming the regional powerhouse through energy export. Its neighbor Sri Lanka’s total primary energy demand is expected to increase 4.9 % per annum from 2018-2037. While lower cost is the major concern in supplying energy to the local market, today policy makers also consider environmentally friendly power resources. This demand in the energy sector, with focus on renewable energy, is an opportunity for India, which has shown considerable interest in investing in renewable energy sources in recent years. The purpose of this study is to identify the opportunities and challenges India would confront when venturing into the Sri Lankan energy market. It is a qualitative data analysis conducted using secondary data sources. It analyzed the needs of Sri Lanka’s energy market, the role of India as a net exporter of power, the various energy related investment proposed by India, and the prospects for India to play a significant role in the Sri Lanka’s energy supply. The study shows that India’s proven track record with exporting electricity to neighboring Bangladesh and Nepal is testimony to its ability to fulfill the growing demand for energy in Sri Lanka. By investing in Sri Lanka’s energy market, India will benefit by establishing cross border links with neighboring countries, securing energy requirements of the region, and manifesting herself as an emerging energy player. However, India will also face significant local public displeasure at the growing Indian presence in the island while also unsettling neighbors such as China. Sri Lanka will also be suspicious of the geopolitical connotations lying beneath Indian interests and critical about India’s relentless pursuit of energy projects such as in Sampur in the past. The research concludes that India will find ample opportunity for mutual benefit by trading in energy resources with Sri Lanka. Future studies of this work could deeply analyze the pros and cons of depending on India to fulfill Sri Lanka’s energy needs.
A Study on Sri Lankan Labour Migration to South Korea.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Wijesooriya, W. A. I. C.
For decades, the stereotypical Sri Lankan migrant worker has been a low-wage female domestic servant in Saudi Arabia or Lebanon. But the stereotype no longer represents the reality: since the late 1990’s nearly half of the migrant workforce has been male and many migrants are opting for new destinations in Europe and Asia rather than the Middle East. Even well developed countries such as USA and Italy own very less percentage from total migration. The special point is that there is a rapid increase of labour migration to South Korea. Especially people between twenties and thirties are trying to succeed their Korean dream more than migrating to other countries. In 2016, 6629 Sri Lankans have officially gone to work in South Korea, a country with a stable exchange rate and better monetary policy than Sri Lanka and about 26 000 Sri Lankans are in higher-paying jobs in South Korea. Sri Lankans are going to work in Korea in droves, despite labour shortages at home due to low wages and to overcome unemployment. The main question that this research seeks to address is even though there are a number of job opportunities in the Middle East, why most of people exceedingly try to migrate to South Korea. The main purposes of this study are to investigate main reasons and hidden factors for the massive flow of Sri Lankan labour migration to South Korea, to examine the trends, patterns and scales of labour migration to South Korea, to investigate different living conditions of migrant workers before departure and after migration and to examine experiences and difficulties faced by migrant workers in the destination country. This study relies on a mix method by using both primary data and secondary data. Information was collected by interviewing officials and migrants, distributing a questionnaire and referring various literature on labour migration. The research concludes that youth unemployment in Sri Lanka is clearly a pressing issue which pushes them towards other destinations. The majority of those seeking work in Korea were in the 25-30 and also the 20-24 age category. Low income/low wages in Sri Lanka and satisfactory salaries in South Korea are the main reasons cited by the youth for seeking foreign employment in South Korea.
The Refugee Crisis: A European Policy Failure.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Nanayakkara, M.D.
The outbreak of unprecedented number of people from Middle Eastern and African countries -fleeing from war, persecution, and unrelenting poverty-have been crossing borders into and within Europe, traversing the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the English Channel. This refugee crisis has created a vast range of spillover effects turning immigration, asylum, border control, and state sovereignty into interconnected problems, making migration not only a political event but also a media spectacle all over the world. The evolving context of this crisis continues to throw up new challenges for the European Union requiring robust systems and policies that can be adapted to meet them. Refugee protection efforts in Europe have continuously suffered from substantial collective efforts in the area of policy making due to the restrictive policy measures adopted by European region. Although the number of protection programs in European has increased in recent years, mal-integration and lack of consensus within the nations continue to grow within the region. The diverse agendas followed by the countries in the European region have in one way or the other influenced the refugee crisis at a larger scale, increasing the repercussions of the crisis. Thus, the response of the European nations has been quite lamentable. Hence, this paper examines how the refugee protection obligations of European countries have been affected by increasing lack of consensus in the European Union. The objective of this paper is to identify the discrepancies between European policies implemented on refugee crisis and it intends to find out possible means in building a successful European Refugee Policy. Further, this paper is conducted as a qualitative study with the use of secondary data under the refugee crisis and the European policies. In conclusion, this paper will discuss hurdles faced by the European region in drafting refugee protection policies, argue on the overburdening risks of the prevailing measures and aims to provide recommendations to the divided Europe to unify its’ policies.
Migration and Poverty in Sri Lanka: special reference to Polonnaruwa District.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Ranamuka, R.A.H.K.
Sri Lanka has inherited a glorious and a proud history. Its’ people have spent simple lifestyles mostly based on agriculture and nurtured many cultural and socio-economic values. With the introduction of the open economy in the 20th century, these attitudes changed dramatically and people became more money oriented in a capitalized society. As a result, they had to find new ways of earning money rather quickly. Migration of people for foreign employment started in such a background. This research mainly focuses on how foreign remittances help to mitigate poverty level in Polonnaruwa district as the main objective. Majority of people in Polonnaruwa district migrate to other countries seeking for employment to come out of the grip of poverty. Majority of them get less income per month. Poverty was increased during civil war period, but at the end of the war people were reasonably well off rather than in the past. There are many rural areas embedded in Polonnaruwa district and they are always fighting with life, because of the higher cost of living. Some people cannot even find their daily expense, and on such a situation people tend to go for overseas jobs. Therefore this research is valuable to study their past life and success of their present life due to migration. Examining the migration family status now and then, reasons of migration, economic background of the family have been taken as specific objectives of this study. Research use both primary and secondary data and also collect the data and utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods. To collect the primary data, questionnaire method will be utilized. Many sources are used to collect the secondary data such as publish and unpublished books, journals, research etc. The findings of this study are migration is taken place to reduce poverty in Polonnaruwa district, and majority of them have migrated due to poverty. The study concludes that as a result of the migration, their family status and the economic background has improved than the past. As the recommendation awareness programs should be implemented to maintain their income after come back to Sri Lanka.
Effects of migration of women to Middle East countries: Case of Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Dilhani, R.W.T.
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another place for the purpose of permanent or semi-permanent residences across a political boundary. There are about 214 million estimated international migrants in the world today and among them 49% are women of the global population. More than 60,000 of Sri Lankan women are working in Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar as housemaids. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of migration of Sri Lankan women to Middle East countries. The number of Sri Lankan women who are migrating as house maids to Middle East countries was increased after the introduction of open economy system to Sri Lanka in 1977.Therefore,it has both micro and macro level impacts to the development of Sri Lanka in international arena. In this study I wish to examine that what is the women migration, what are the push and pull factors, how it be affected to the Sri Lankan perspectives and why it is became as a severe crisis for the development process of the Sri Lanka. Here, I used secondary data which is appropriate topic and consider qualitative data analysis. The study shows that the current situation of the migration of Sri Lankan women to Middle East countries and its impacts for the Sri Lanka. There are some push and pull factors which are motivate women to migrate as housemaids to Middle East countries. The research concludes that the impacts of migration of women which are related to the Sri Lankan economic, cultural, social and political contexts and the main impact is that, it can break up the family and it will lead to social upheaval without a mother at home. And also it could affect to the image of Sri Lanka and women of Sri Lanka within other countries. In the case of 'Rizana' we realized that how dangerous women migration of Sri Lanka to Middle East countries. However, until today migration of women plays the key role as the main income source in the economy of Sri Lanka.
Cyber-attacks: The evolving threat landscape in Sri Lanka’s National Security.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Perera, W.M.Y.
The 21st century Digital Age where the availability and accessibility of information reaching unprecedented levels has expanded the contexts from which national security challenges can emerge. Sri Lanka being ranked among the top 10 countries in the Asia Pacific impacted by the growing threats to cyber-attacks unveils the vitality to protect its availability of critical infrastructure. Moreover, as a developing nation currently it has a greater possibility of facing an unforeseen vulnerability in cyber-attacks owing to its greater dependence on critical infrastructure, industrial automation and cyber based control systems especially with the adoption of ‘E- Sri Lanka Development’ initiative. Although Sri Lanka claimed its complete territorial sovereignty by eradicating the LTTE terrorists there remains a question whether the country is ready to face emerging threats in the new domain of cyberspace. The objective of this research is to identify the sectors of national security in Sri Lanka that are more prone to cyber-attacks. Moreover, it reviews how the existing law is deficient and what needs to be done to improve network intrusions threatening the National Security. Examining the existing law with globally accepted cyber intrusion analytical models denoted that a comprehensive legal framework is needed to address cyber-attacks. The study is based on qualitative research with the aim of gathering insights on the subject matter including both primary and secondary data. The study found out that, the vulnerability of business and industries to cyber-attacks is increasing and will continue to increase in future, adoption of internet and mobile banking in the banking sector is causing cyber security breaches where banks hardly report for the fear of losing public confidence and inadequate preventive mechanisms and privacy laws to detect cyber-attacks. Sri Lanka’s paradigm shift from eradicating LTTE and securing its physical borders, to cyber space has become the newest national security breach infringing its Political, Economic, Social and Technological spheres.
War and Terrorism in Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Munasinghe, P.A.A.D.
War is so common in the world today, and especially in the third world countries. Many countries in the world are engulfed by war. Civil war, ethnic war, cold war, identity wars have been the cause of ruining human civilizations. First and second world wars, ethnic war in Sri Lanka, Vietnam War etc are some of the examples of wars that have made damages the world is still recovering from. No one has forgotten 9/11. People still live in fear and terror in most of the Islamic countries. Freedom has been ditched and murdered by terrorism all over the world. Terrorism could make it impossible to imagine any free society. Our next generation might end up growing up surrounded by nuclear weapons, terrorism and human genocide. The Sri Lankan Civil War was an armed conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on 23 July 1983, there was an intermittent insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which fought to create an independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam in the north and the east of the island. After a 26-year military campaign, the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, bringing the civil war to an end. The future for the island of Sri Lanka, however, offers three stark alternatives, kill all remaining Tamils, power-sharing package and partition. Hence, the first choice would not help ease the situation for better. The second alternative is to find a solution that provides guarantees for security, stability and ethnic peace, which can be materialized in ethnically divided societies through restructuring the state system with power sharing. There should be a political appetite among masses for broader peace agendas. Importantly, there needs to be a political regime to pursue peace. Propaganda and marketing not only need to launch war, but also to seek peace. Actually, more aggressive form of propaganda and marketing is needed to seek peace in a society where symbols are sold to pursue war.
The “DOKLAM” Border Standoff between Two Asian Giants.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Karunarathne, M.S.H.U.
Sino-Indian border disputes have a long history which marked the deterioration of their relations. This particular study is mainly focused on ‘Doklam’ face-off, the most recent confrontation of borderland between China and India. The tension between India and China were again intensified with the ‘Doklam’ face-off and this situation taught unforgettable lessons for both sides. The study will discuss historical background of their border disputes. The main objective is to examine the present situation of the border disputes regarding the ‘Doklam’ face-off and also discusses what types of changes will happen in their future bilateral relations regarding the ‘Doklam’ incident. Furthermore the study will examine the Bhutan factor which is the third party of the ‘Doklam’ face-off. To achieve aforesaid objectives a qualitative approach has been adopted and secondary data is the main type of data obtained from various sources such as books, journal articles, newspapers, government records and other relevant documents available in both printed and electronic versions. Document analysis and theoretical analysis are used to analyze data. In document analysis documents are interpreted to give meaning and it collects available data related to the study and interprets them to find out specific issues. Concepts derived from literature review and theoretical analysis help to develop broader understanding on those issues and collect new knowledge. The research findings conclude that Chinese influence over the other entities seems inevitable with its rise as a global economic and military power which is perceived as a threat by India. India is also trying to match Chinese rise resulting suspicion and fear psychosis among one another’s achievements. Border disputes are considered as one of the main factors which are shaping their bilateral relations. Time to time these disputes have turned their relations into tensions. The Border States and areas, such as Bhutan and ‘Doklam’ have become convergent points for both India and China due to its strategic importance in the border areas. Furthermore, this particular study emphasized the importance of resolute solution for the standoff between India and China.
An Analysis of Socio Cultural Issue related to Unskilled Women Migration from Sri Lanka to Middle East.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Alles, D.R.
Since 1977 Sri Lankan unskilled women migration gradually move for substantially important path. Moreover it gathered foreign remittances to the motherland and it becomes key aspect of annual Gross National Product (GNP). And the social aspect of economically wellbeing is encouraged rural or countryside people to migrate, especially women to Middle East as Housemaids. Then in 1985 Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign employment established Sri Lanka foreign employment Bureau and Sri Lanka foreign employment Agency to support and encourage people. During the 90th century Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain were popular. Then Sri Lanka became a labour source country. This research observed about challengers, difficulties and harassments faced by the housemaids in Middle East and why they become victims of those facts under following objectives. To identify reasons of increased unskilled women migration from Sri Lanka to Middle East. To analyze the Socio and Cultural issues in working places of Middle East. To determine the actions were taken by the government to decrease the problems of Middle East and limitations of that. And secondary data such as researches and recorded data about former housemaid employers may contribute to identify their attitudes on employments in Middle East. Moreover their own experiences will be the great evidences to find key tasks. They do not have proper education of using electronics and about culture. Also cannot against over their master’s behaviors. Because of they are week and powerless. Some of housemaids came back with permanently disabled, sick, sexual harassments, painful experiences or died. And the other social effect is children of migrate mother exploited by the society. Those findings were the outcomes of this research. Suggestions are the government should make more successful procedure for unskilled women migration to the Middle East, The human rights of housemaids must be protected. Therefore this women migration must be updated by the current circumstances according to the world labour market and responsible to protect social condition of human values. This research should be important for scholars, researchers, undergraduates and people who are engaged with this subject for further observations.
Convergence of India and China interests and their impact on post conflict Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Karunarathne, M.S.H.U.
Convergence of India-China interests on Sri Lankan context became critical during post conflict period as it provided the platform for these two powerful nations to check and balance their interests. This paper aims at discussing the impact of their interests on post conflict Sri Lanka. The main objective of the study is to determine the imperatives of Sri Lanka’s post conflict period and identify the convergence of Indo-China interests on above context and their impact on Sri Lanka. To achieve aforesaid objectives qualitative approach has been adopted and secondary data is the main type of data obtained from various sources such as books, journal articles, newspapers, government records and other relevant documents available in both printed and electronic versions. Document analysis, theoretical analysis and descriptive analysis are used to analyze data. In document analysis documents are interpreted to give meaning and it collects available data related to the study and interprets them to find out specific issues. Concepts derived from literature review and theoretical analysis help to develop broader understanding on those issues and collect new knowledge. Descriptive analysis has also been used in certain areas to provide comprehensive understanding of collected data. The research findings conclude Chinese influence over the other regions seems inevitable with its rise as a global economic and military power which is perceived as a threat by India. India is also trying to match Chinese rise resulting suspicion and fear psychosis among one another’s achievements. Both are engaged in a competition to achieve goodwill of their neighbors. Sri Lanka has become convergence point for both India and China due to its strategic importance in the Indian Ocean and it was intensified during post conflict period. Both attempted to attract the post conflict reconstruction projects but China impressed more positively on Sri Lankan policy makers since its aid came with no influences for domestic politics. India raised the issue on reconciliation and power devolution and even supported UN resolution against Sri Lanka. Chinese approach was more peaceful and beneficial for Sri Lanka whereas India
China- Sri Lanka Diplomatic Relations: analyzing means and ends of development policies in Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Pushpamali, W.M.V.
China has become the world’s second largest economy. Sri Lanka is a small economy that is ranked as a lower middle income country. China and Sri Lanka have extensive historical links, religious and cultural, economic and also diplomatic. The strategic location of Sri Lanka, with key shipping lanes, ‘String of Pearls’, has significantly enhanced the two countries’ relations in recent years. Sri Lanka’s strategic location has attracted China’s attention recently due to its strategic interests. Diplomatic ties that have lasted for 60 years between the two countries have mutually benefited both countries. The main objective of this article is to investigate the reasons for this relationship. Other specific objectives can be mentioned as to examine whether there are any hidden agenda, to evaluate the impact of the diplomatic relationship between these two countries and to analyze the outcome of this relationship. The analysis is based on secondary data, such as published and unpublished books, journals, research and etc. The method that is used to analyze the data is descriptive analysis. The findings will be redounded to the future researchers. For instance there are so many hidden objectives for giving funds to Sri Lanka. For instance, because China is a rising power funding Sri Lanka will help to increase its power I Asia Based on the analysis although Sri Lanka does not geographically share borders with China, China regards its relationship with Sri Lanka as an important part of its good neighbor policy. Sri Lanka appears to have forged closer relations with China. Sri Lanka welcomed Chinese investment in building a port in Hambantota, arms from China for use in its civil war, to construct Bandaranaike Memorial Conference Hall (BMICH), highways, Lotus tower and “dialogue partner” status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The two countries have the consensus to work together for a bright future through the bilateral relationship, which will not only benefit the two peoples but also the whole world.
The New Face of Genocide in Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Jayawardane, B.A.I. M.
Today the world is facing a new face of genocide. It is most commonly known as ‘poverty’. This can also be referred to a deadly viral disease and has escalated in to a global catastrophe. Still the modern form of genocide is not addressed wisely by world forums although it is very important to combat global poverty. Sri Lanka as a developing country is also a victim. According to the World Bank people who are maintaining their living with less than 1.90 US dollars per day are categorized under ‘extreme poverty’ and people who are maintaining their living with less than 3.10 US dollars are categorized under ‘moderately poverty’ group. African and Asian countries face this condition seriously. World’s poorest countries can be found in Sub – Saharan Africa. Niger and Eritrea are two of the poorest countries which are land locked and there are more. Objective of studying global poverty is to provide a clear picture of global poverty and to broaden the understanding about poverty alleviation. Since the world is facing a catastrophe in the name of poverty everyone must have a clear understanding about the term and its impacts to provide necessary solutions to reduce poverty level in Sri Lanka. The study of poverty in Sri Lanka has been conducted by referring to secondary sources like books, journals, newspaper, reports, articles and visual sources. Statistical analysis and graphs have been used to demonstrate poverty levels. Aspects of poverty include hunger, unemployment, corruption, illiteracy, poor standards of living, lack of access to healthy food and water and hardships to fulfill basic needs of people. Exploitation of resources in colonial period, decolonization, great wars, civil wars, lack of proper education, political instability, backward economy, dictatorships, violence and civil wars are outcomes of poverty. Sri Lanka is also affected by these problems. Some global level initiatives have launched to alleviate poverty. Sustainable development goals introduced by UNO and regional organizations like European Union, ASEAN, and SAARC contribute to reduce poverty by giving aids and advices to countries. UNO and European Union have contributed to alleviate poverty to an extent. However, still there is more to be done.
Reflection on the Great Power Politics in Sri Lankan Foreign Policy: Special Reference to China India Rivalry.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Priyadarshana, P. N.
Being a small nation Sri Lanka has long struggled to counterbalance its powerful neighbor India. This was often done by bringing in powers from outside of the region so it can fulfill its’ economic and security needs without bending to India’s will. As a result, China’s involvement in Sri Lanka has been increasingly heavy since recent years. Along with the gradual transition of power to the Asian continent Sri Lanka’s strategic importance has been enhanced while increasing the interests of outside powers in the island, especially China. Thus the recent geo-political tussles over Sri Lanka between India and China have focused on establishing power points in the island nation. These developments have caused internal disturbance as it has been perceived as a threat to sovereignty and the security of the country. It has become an undeniable factor that Sri Lanka needs to assure a healthy relationship with both the great powers, India and China for its’ benefit. However the rivalry between the two nations has made it critical for Sri Lanka to balance the interests of the two nations to achieve its own interests. The study investigates the foreign policy of Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2017 and how the national interests of the country are reflected in the foreign policy formulation and implementation. It further identifies the challenges and vulnerabilities that Sri Lanka has to face as a small state amidst the India- China rivalry and their interest in the island. The Study takes a qualitative approach based on secondary data with foreign policy being the independent variable while alignment behavior being the dependent variable. Analysis of latest Sri Lankan foreign policy trends and prospects reflects that gaining foothold in Sri Lanka is critical to any power rising to secure Indian Ocean routes to the East and West. Therefore Sri Lanka must be careful not to allow one party to outpace the others. Fear of India that Sri Lanka will fall under control of a hostile nation and India’s rival, China being the probable power to do so, make matters complicated. While minimizing the threat of domination, Sri Lanka has to continue to advance its ability to maximize the advantages of outside influence.
The Effect of the Geneva Convention related to the Ethnic Crisis of Sri Lanka.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Kumarasinghe, K.A.W.M.
The Geneva issue arises with the western efforts of restoring “human right tactics” to demean Sri Lanka’s success on the international stage against the LTTE. The LTTE was ranked as the most ruthless and dangerous terrorist organization in the world at the time. They fought against Sinhala people. And the Geneva problem is not a simple case for both Sri Lanka’s economic and cultural perspectives. The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of Geneva Convention in relation to the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. The Geneva report recommends the investigation of the alleged human right violation in Sri Lanka since 1982. The latest Geneva report on Sri Lanka was released on September 16 in Geneva during its currently ongoing 30th session. But the present report is no different from the controversial Darusman report. In this study I wish to examine what the Geneva Convention is, how it can affect the Sri Lankan perspectives and why it became a blemish for the development process of Sri Lanka in many cases. Here, secondary data have been used which is appropriate to the topic and to conduct a qualitative data analysis. The study shows that according to the present context of the Geneva resolution and its impact on Sri Lanka the government has to agree with the principle of free and fair inquiry in the alleged war crimes. And the most controversial recommendation in the Geneva report is the “hybrid” court of inquiry which raised the doubt of the extent of involvement of the foreign judges and the demarcation of jurisdiction. The research concludes that the main economic impact of Geneva Convention related to the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis will be losing potential opportunities which will affect the tourism and foreign direct investment. And also it could affect Sr Lankan exports to western countries which are main markets for our manufactured exports. Not only that, this problem will also affect Sri Lankan independence and sovereignty as a nation.
The Threat of Maritime Piracy in the Indian Ocean and Its Implications on Sri Lanka: A Jurisdictional Analysis.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Fernando, N.
Piracy is universally accepted as hostis humani generis and is also a transnational crime which imposes serious threats to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. Since Sri Lanka is strategically posited in the Indian Ocean among the most important sea lanes of communication and is geopolitically significant; this position could serve as a catalyst for pioneering anti-piracy framework through regional multilateralism and in adherence to international law. For this goal, potential actors are identified through a security matrix. This paper analyses the jurisdictional bases of International Law concerning piracy with special reference to universal jurisdiction for prosecution of piracy and transnational crime. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Security Council resolutions, and Djibouti guideline are examined for building a comprehensive legal framework aimed at combatting piracy. It is identified that military alliance through multilateralism is important to combat the threat of piracy. Therefore, work of international specialized agencies and regional organizations on combatting piracy is examined to provide suggestions for the development of the existing frameworks in navigating the complexities of maritime security regime. It is concluded that a state sponsored solution is best for prosecuting piracy rather than privatized security service success of which depends on state willingness to assert universal jurisdiction in the high seas. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is identified as the most plausible solution to prevent crime at sea for which it’s suggested the ICC must include piracy and transnational crime within its jurisdiction by way of an amendment to the Rome Statute. It is recommended that Sri Lanka cooperates with the ICC in the future to re-establish Sri Lanka as a cooperative state. It is recommended for Indian Ocean Rim Association to include a military component in the shape of a naval collective security regime to provide security for vessels in the region. This paper is based on documentary analysis obtained from secondary sources of data including textbooks, journals, legal resources, official websites of specialized agencies and their publications using the data triangulation method of qualitative research.
A Long Standing Relationship Ambivalent of being Rewarded: Turkey’s accession into the European Union.
(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Gunasekara, H.D. R. M.
As an integral part of Europe for over centuries, Turkey has been knocking at the European Union’s (EU) door since 1963 when it became an associate member of the European Economic Community. Despite the relations between the two are being characterized by cooperation and convergence, the European Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Turkey in 2005 has proved to be a sui generis case of the EU enlargement. This paper explores the role of the EU Member States in determining the trajectory of Turkey’s European future by focusing on accession negotiations on the basis of 35 chapters. A qualitative content analysis on news items and scholarly articles centered on Turkey’s membership bid is carried out to analyze Turkey’s commitment and the reaction of the EU statesmen that reflects the public opinion in European states. As per the findings, no nation in the 28- nation bloc favors an unconditional accession for Ankara. Germany, Austria and Belgium as the leading opponents of the full membership, are of the opinion that Ankara’s failed coup is a clear indication that Turkey’s democratic standards are insufficient to justify the accession and that the current autocratic President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan disregards European values. Albeit a ‘privileged partnership’, rather than full membership, is favored for Turkey due to mutual security interests as NATO allies. France and the UK are indecisive of well receiving a Muslim country, while the rest is in favor of Turkey. However, the refugee deal to keep a plethora of migrants inside Turkey’s borders in return for financial aid in 2016 struck outside the formal framework of the membership negotiations and brought the EU Members and Turkey closer without questioning Turkey’s identity. In conclusion it is obvious that even though Member States’ influence is inevitable due to the institutional design of the EU’s decision-making processes, Turkey will continue to gravitate towards Europe, holding the refugee crisis as a major bargaining chip irrespective of the changing political weather. Nevertheless, Turkey’s chances for the full membership will further languish as long as President Erdogan remains in office, as he is considered pugnacious, which is against European values.