Country
Sri Lanka
Why Is Trincomalee Port Still Undeveloped?
By P.K. Balachandran
Plans to develop the port in eastern Sri Lanka have repeatedly stalled out, due to a variety of internal and external factors.
The Real Cause of Sri Lanka’s Debt Trap
By Bram Nicholas and Shiran Illanperuma
Sri Lanka’s default highlights the dangers of relying on international sovereign bonds – with high interest rates – to fund development.
China Should Rethink Its Position on Debt
By Sarah Saadoun
China has lent over $1 trillion to more than 150 countries as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, making it the world’s largest official creditor.
This Week in Asia: February 24, 2023
The Diplomat’s weekly video round-up of Asia news.
Sri Lanka Government Develops Cold Feet, Calls Off Local Elections
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Fearing that it will be routed in elections, the ruling party unleashed a propaganda campaign to convince people that elections amid the economic crisis are a bad idea.
The Geopolitics of Sri Lanka’s Energy Crisis
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya
Recent visits to Colombo by top officials from India and the U.S. illustrate how Sri Lanka’s power sector is becoming a theater of big power rivalry.
China Expresses Support for Sri Lanka Ahead of Debt Meeting
By Joe McDonald and Bharatha Mallawarachi
Beijing is resisting cuts to Sri Lanka's debts for fear other borrowers will want similar relief.
Sri Lankan Leader Appeals for Patience Amid Economic Crisis
By Krishan Francis
Government doctors, university teachers, and other workers from ports and the power and petroleum sectors are calling on the government to lower income taxes.
Sri Lankan President Pledges Full Implementation of 13th Amendment
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Ranil Wickremesinghe appears to be using the promise of power-sharing as a political tool to secure himself in power.
Sri Lanka’s Flawed Path to Independence
By Devana Senanayake
Sri Lanka’s elite-driven independence process laid the groundwork for the problems that continue to plague the country today, from ethnic tensions to inequality.
Why Sri Lanka’s Headline Grabbing Protests Failed
By Thusiyan Nandakumar
Yes, Sri Lankans drove President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office – but did they accomplish any lasting change?
China’s Panicked Reaction to Sri Lanka’s Invitation to the Dalai Lama
By Sudha Ramachandran
Its charge d’affaires in Colombo raced to Kandy to warn a top Buddhist monk of damage to bilateral relations if the Tibetan leader visited the island.