Research and Teaching Interests
- Foreign Policy Studies
- China Studies
- Maritime Security and Ocean Politics (Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific Region)
- Agency of Small and Medium States
- Security Studies
- Strategic Communication
- International Relations
- Area Studies
I am the inaugural Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Sri Lanka, where I lead educational initiatives in International Relations and languages, create innovative teaching programmes and foster global understanding.
Previously, I was as the inaugural BRI Postdoctoral Fellow of Global Asia at New York University Shanghai, leading the ‘BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) and South Asia’ project and the ‘CGA BRI Talk Series‘. I was also a Senior Lecturer at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, impacting over 5,500 students. My research intersects Foreign Policy Studies, China’s foreign and defence policies in the Indian Ocean region and South Asia, agency of small and medium states, security studies and Maritime Security. My work has appeared in peer-reviewed publications, such as The Routledge Handbook of US policy in the Indo-Pacific, National Security Journal, Journal of World Affairs to name a few. I have authored and co-edited Pakistan-Sri Lanka Relations: A Story of Friendship (2017), Sri Lanka’s Post-Independence Defence Policy: Past, Present and Future Projections (2023), From Friendship to Dependency: Analysing Sri Lanka’s foreign policymaking towards China (2025).
I have been awarded many international scholarships and grants, such as Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (2020); International Visitor Leadership Program, USA (2019); Visiting Scholar, China Institute for International Studies, Beijing, China (2017); Geneva Center for Security Policy, Switzerland (2017); Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, India (2010); Ship for World Youth Program, Japan (2010) to name a few.
I am passionate about fostering global dialogue and reducing the gap between academics, policymakers, and practitioners. My work is driven by a commitment to enhancing international understanding, and accessibility of education and research. Reach out to explore opportunities for collaboration in international relations and education.
Bhagya Senaratne 