Determinants of Sri Lankan foreign policy: an in-depth analysis

Abstract

Foreign policy serves as a vital tool in securing the national interest of a country while determining the nature of inter-state relations among the nations. The foreign policy of Sri Lanka can be analyzed through the number of determinants that vary according to the situation. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to explore the key determinants and challenges of Sri Lankan foreign policy. Secondary sources such as e-books, newspapers, government reports, articles, books, and relevant authorities' websites were mainly used to collect data to address the research problem. Based on the key findings, key determinants of Sri Lankan foreign policy could be divided into two groups: internal and external factors. Most significantly, two-level game theory was utilized in theoretical perspectives to analyze the interconnection of those two determinants in framing Sri Lankan foreign policy. Thus, on the one hand, this paper will contribute to bridging the existing literature gap on determinants of Sri Lankan foreign policy and its challenges. On the other hand, this case study would encourage future researchers to conduct more relevant studies.