South Asia

Photo: Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka on April 13, 2022 in front of the Presidential Secretariat. CC BY-SA 4.0

Sri Lanka: The Story of the Situation Going from Bad to Worse

Viewpoint by Alan Keenan

This article was issued by the International Crisis Group and is being republished with their permission. Alan Keenan is Senior Consultant at the Crisis Group.

BRUSSELS (IDN) — Protests, which had been building from late February in response to Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in nearly 75 years of independence, have now morphed into a nationwide uprising. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the removal of the Rajapaksa family from politics.

The protest wave gained momentum as the results of the government’s financial and economic mismanagement became increasingly visible amid rapidly disappearing hard currency reserves and widespread shortages.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 19 April 2022

Image: DevPolicy Blog | Thilina Panduwawala

Nero Is Fiddling in Milan: Sri Lanka's Neglected Crisis of Diplomatic Representation – Part Two

This is the second in a series of two articles. Please click here for Part One.

Viewpoint by ALA Azeez

ROME (IDN) — In a further measure aimed to reduce the pressure on the declining foreign reserves, the foreign ministry announced over the past months, plans to close down some of Sri Lanka's missions abroad. It is not clear what criteria was applied and if any other missions have been identified for possible closure.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 18 April 2022

Image: Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan.

Nero Is Fiddling in Milan: Sri Lanka's Neglected Crisis of Diplomatic Representation – Part One

This is the first in a series of two articles.

Viewpoint by ALA Azeez

ROME (IDN) — In a series of political appointments made by the Sri Lankan government in the past few months even as the economic crisis was looming large, the latest one pertains to the diplomatic position of Consul General at Milan, Italy.

As of writing, the foreign ministry, under mounting public pressure, has clarified via its latest press release, that the person concerned "will not be appointed the consul general in Milan".

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 18 April 2022

Crisis-Ridden Sri Lanka Negotiates for an IMF Bailout

Viewpoint by Nandi Jasentuliyana

The writer is a former Deputy Director-General, United Nations.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (IDN) — Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe foreign exchange and debt crisis resulting in a shortage of food, fuel, power, and every other commodity to be purchased at exorbitant prices that the suffering masses cannot afford, forcing them to the streets protesting against the governing authorities.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 17 April 2022

Image: Haolenphai Village, Manipur / Ms. Hatneihoi Haokip

Climate Change and the Tribal Communities of Manipur, India

This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission.

Viewpoint by Robert Mizo

NEW DELHI (IDN) — Climate change is bound to have far-reaching implications on tribal societies even though they have traditionally lived in close harmony with nature. For them, climate change is an issue of human rights and equity as it threatens to disrupt their traditional ways of life and production through land degradation, agricultural shifts, changes in rainfall patterns, higher incidence of pests and diseases.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 06 April 2022

Photo: TS Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the UN, said India chose to abstain on the UNSC resolution on Ukraine because the path of diplomacy was given up. Credit: ANI | HT_PRINT

Ukraine-Russia Conflict: India Re-Asserts Strategic Autonomy

Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran *

NEW DELHI (IDN) — Washington has failed to push India into taking a stand against Moscow in the ongoing US-Russia confrontation, where Ukraine is a victim of both the superpowers. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is indefensible, as war or the use of military force is unacceptable as a means of dispute resolution. Equally indefensible is the US and the US-led West using Ukraine as bait to set the bear trap of the war, in which Russia has now got snared.

: Shastri Ramachandaran; THE WORLD; South Asia; 11 March 2022

Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2021. Credit: PTI

Russian Assault on Ukraine: India’s Tough Call

Viewpoint by Sugeeswara Senadhira

COLOMBO (IDN) — Sri Lanka announced its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and urged the parties to solve their issue through negotiations. India, though considered to be the best peace broker to intervene to solve the Russia-Ukraine conflict due to its strong relationship with the two countries, is in a dilemma over the issue.

: Opinion Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 03 March 2022

India’s Domineering Role Over Sri Lanka

By Mulaffer Khalid

The writer is a political analyst, a Senior Lecturer at the Chartered Institute of Supply & Materials Management and Visiting Lecturer both at the National Institute of Business Management and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.

COLOMBO (IDN) — India, one of the major nuclear powers in South Asia, has long gained a notoriety as a political bully in its own neighbourhood—and Sri Lanka has continued to be one of its victims.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 23 February 2022

Photo: A general view of the UN Security Council. Credit: UN

India Trapped on A Tightrope in Big Power Games

Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran *

This article was issued by WION and DNA, and is being re-published with the writer's permission.

NEW DELHI (IDN) — India’s diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing this week was another balancing act of a piece with its position on Ukraine in the UN Security Council meeting last week. In both cases, the Government of India made a virtue of not taking a stand by appearing to take a stand.

: Shastri Ramachandaran; THE WORLD; South Asia; 12 February 2022

Photo: From left to Right- Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn

India-UK Free Trade Agreement: Band-Aid or a Band of Democracies

Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn

Manish Uprety is an ex-diplomat & ALCAP’s Special Adviser for Asia & Africa and Jainendra Karn is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News.

NEW DELHI (IDN) — Post Magna Carta and the Treaty of Westphalia, international relations between nations are like the sacred marriage vows of Henry VIII or Elizabeth Taylor; and no one knows what the future might unfold. Indo-British relations can also be seen explored in the same light.