Author: Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.

I am the current Postdoctoral Fellow of Global Asia at the Center for Global Asia, New York University Shanghai, China. I am also attached to Sri Lanka's Kotelawala Defence University as a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor in the United States). I am the first academic from the Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) to proceed on a postdoctoral fellowship and the only female academic at the Department of Strategic Studies to hold a doctorate. I research on areas such as Sri Lanka-China Relations, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy Analysis, Strategic Communications and Maritime Security.
21st Century Maritime Silk Road · China · Diplomacy · Foreign Policy · Public Diplomacy · Sri Lanka

Enhancing China’s Overseas Investment Image through Public Diplomacy

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The last decade showcased an increase in overseas investment by the People’s Republic of China and its private enterprises. This increased further with President Xi Jinping’s announcement of the Silk Route initiatives which is collectively known as the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. The success of these initiatives and investments lie in being able to harness…… Continue reading Enhancing China’s Overseas Investment Image through Public Diplomacy

Human Security · International Relations · Sri Lanka

Advancing Human Security Centric Policies in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities

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Abstract Human Security is a concept which has been in existence for approximately three decades in the international discourse. Even though the concept is relatively unknown in Sri Lanka, it is a concept from which citizens in countries such as Sri Lanka can benefit immensely from. Laying emphasis on the human when encountering or seeking…… Continue reading Advancing Human Security Centric Policies in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities

21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Some comments
21st Century Maritime Silk Road · China · Diplomacy · Indian Ocean Region · International Relations · Preventive Diplomacy · Sri Lanka

21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Some comments

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View a few of the comments I made at the regional workshop on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Considering Security Implications held in Yangon, Myanmar on the Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung page. My presentation focused on the use of Preventive Diplomacy in Mitigating Future Threats to Security.

Media & Communication · Public Diplomacy · Sri Lanka

National Security of Sri Lanka: Importance of Mass Media and Communication

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This decade is proving to be crucial to national security of Sri Lanka as there are many international pressures upon the country. Some of these pressures are legal whilst others are economic. However, the common nature of all these pressures is that it threatens Sri Lanka’s national security and obstructs the development of the country.…… Continue reading National Security of Sri Lanka: Importance of Mass Media and Communication

Cyber Security · Military · Sri Lanka

Dynamics in Cyber Security: Challenges to Sri Lanka’s National Security

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Technological developments in today’s world which take place annually, make technology accessible to individuals and communities that were previously not able to access it. The advent of mobile technology, its accessibility and affordability has enabled its penetration to all walks of society. This has therefore even empowered non-state actors and terrorist groups, which increases the threat individuals and states face. The objectives…… Continue reading Dynamics in Cyber Security: Challenges to Sri Lanka’s National Security