Sri Lanka

Wang Yi’s visits to the Maldives and Sri Lanka signal Beijing’s priorities fairly clearly: it's focusing on South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

In addition to foreign debt obligations exceeding $7 billion, Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves are down to $1.6 billion, barely enough for a few weeks of imports.

The terminal is located near the strategic Trincomalee port, one of the world’s finest natural harbors.

The pandemic made it easier for governments to justify authoritarian measures, including crackdowns on the media and excessive surveillance.

The Chinese ambassador’s public diplomacy in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province would have won the hearts of the local Tamil population.

By embracing some countries and excluding others, the US has squandered an opportunity to unite South Asia – at least ideologically – against Beijing.

Colombo has agreed to pay millions of dollars to a Chinese company that has reportedly supplied it with contaminated organic fertilizer.

The U.S. and India cannot advance their interests in Sri Lanka by appeasing Colombo.

The president’s excessive reliance on the military to govern Sri Lanka has plunged the country in multiple crises.

The pandemic, rising prices and food shortages have thrown up challenges for governments, and majoritarianism is an easy way to divert public attention from domestic woes.

Recent reports from CSW and USCIRF highlight the pressures put on Sri Lanka’s religious minorities.