Sri Lnaka’s Foreign Policy under Mahinda Rajapaksha

Abstract

Foreign policy of a country is a significant mechanism which can be used for the advancement of interests of a specific country or a state. Unlike domestic policy it operates in an international atmosphere where the actions and behavior of other states. Since 1948 Sri Lanka had experienced two types of regime governance like United National Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Party. In every country there can be a change of the foreign policy due to the regime changes. Mahinda Rajapaksha was the 05th executive president of Sri Lanka from (2005-2009) -(2009-2015). He represented the SLFP party. Though there were successes of his foreign policy approach can see some weaknesses and failures in his second period as the president. The objectives of this study is to discuss the successes and to identify the failures of foreign policy under Rajapaksha regime, to explore what conditions led to foreign policy failures under Rajapaksha regime and to discuss what are the strategies taken by Mahinda Rajapaksha government to restore these failed relations.. And to examine foreign policy strategies used by Rajapaksha regime to restore failed relations with special reference to India and the United States. The methodology that has followed for the study is qualitative in nature while only based on secondary data and used descriptive as well as content analysis. This study is limited to the events and situations that happened in Sri Lankan foreign relations from (2005-2015). The research findings evident that he faced for difficulties while having relations with India and the United States. It also concludes that though Mahinda Rajapaksha had to face for difficulties he was able to have successful relations with India and the United States from 2005 to 2015