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Why Sri Lanka’s Default was not Caused by China
Sri Lanka is facing its first debt default since its independence. On 12 April 2022, the Sri Lankan government announced that it will suspend all foreign debt repayments, except to multilateral development banks. It is now seeking a bail-out from…
The Crisis of Elite Capture in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
In July, Pakistan and Sri Lanka met on the cricket pitch for a match that had been quietly moved from Colombo to Galle. While international broadcasters aired visuals of ocean waves crashing onto Galle Fort’s once tourist-frequented beaches, Sri Lankans…
SAV Q&A with Asanga Abeyagoonasekera: Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis – Part 2
On July 15, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera spoke with South Asian Voices Deputy Editor Isha Gupta on new developments in Sri Lanka's economic and political crises, including how the protests will factor into Sri Lanka's political future, the role of the military in…
Beyond the Brink: Can an Old Face Save a Country in Freefall?
On May 16, Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, declared that Sri Lanka only had enough petroleum stocks for one day. In a special statement, he outlined the island’s economic challenges in light of its first-ever sovereign default. The…
Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis: Foreign Policy Amidst Domestic Tumult
Since the start of the new year, Sri Lanka has fallen deeper into an economic crisis. The crisis has led to protests across the country, the resignation of its Prime Minister, and its first debt default since independence. Ranil Wickremesinghe…
SAV Webinar: Disinformation and Crisis Escalation in South Asia
Disinformation, especially spread through the proliferation of new media technologies, has played an increasingly important role in crisis dynamics within South Asia. In this South Asian Voices webinar, experts in Washington D.C. and the subcontinent will discuss how disinformation and…