Sri Lanka
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Sri Lanka bans foreign research ships for a year
The Associated Press Sri Lanka has declared a yearlong moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters amid India’s concerns over Chinese vessels docking in the region. Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesman Niluka Kadurugamuwa said the moratorium applies to all countries and will allow local researchers to build capacity to conduct joint research with foreign counterparts. A Chinese vessel bristling…
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Conflicts - Tensions
U.S. commits $553 million to Sri Lanka port expansion
FORUM Staff The United States International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) has committed more than $500 million toward development of a deep-water shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, the agency announced in November 2023. The $553 million package provides financing to Colombo West International Terminal Private Ltd. for the West Container Terminal. The project partners also include…
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South Asia
Sri Lanka hopeful of deals to overcome financial crisis
FORUM Staff Sri Lanka continues working to move past its worst financial crisis in decades through talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about a bailout agreement. The country also expects a debt relief deal with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), its largest creditor. Sri Lanka had U.S. $7.4 billion in outstanding Chinese debt by the end of 2021,…
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Departments
Eyes Right
Sri Lankan Army Soldiers march during Independence Day celebrations in Colombo in February 2022.
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Asymmetric Threats
One Road, Big Debts
Chinese Infrastructure Scheme Leaves Trail of Buyers’ Remorse
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Key Issues
Sri Lanka Air Force members train with U.S. Air National Guard
FORUM Staff Members of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the United States Air National Guard trained together in Great Falls, Montana, from September 8-12, 2022. Fifteen Sri Lankan Airmen learned to operate aircraft loading and refueling equipment that their nation will receive in 2023 through the U.S. Defense Department’s Building Partner Capacity Program, which provides military training and equipment…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Docking of Chinese ‘spy ship’ at Sri Lankan port spurs conjecture about its intentions
FORUM Staff A Chinese research ship equipped with satellite and communications equipment left Sri Lanka in its ample wake in late August 2022 amid continued speculation about its six-day stay at strategically located Hambantota Port. The Yuan Wang 5’s visit to the economically and politically troubled island nation rankled India, which said the vessel and its crew might have been…
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Global Commons
Recession, shortages of food, fuel, medicine to continue amid Sri Lanka’s financial crisis
FORUM Staff The unprecedented financial crisis facing Sri Lanka is expected to extend through the end of 2023, ushering in a deep recession with shortages of food, fuel and medicine, according to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. “We will have to face difficulties in 2023 as well. This is the truth. This is the reality,” he told parliament in early July…
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