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.
Diplomacy · Foreign Policy · Sri Lanka · US Foreign Policy

Elements of Sri Lanka’s Geopolitics: Impact on United States’ Foreign Policy

Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.Leave a comment

This article examines whether the physical determinants of Sri Lanka have a significant impact on the formulation of the United States’ foreign policy. It also analyses whether Sri Lanka’s close proximity to the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) has any influence on the United States’ urge to link businesses and people, and also to reaffirm…… Continue reading Elements of Sri Lanka’s Geopolitics: Impact on United States’ Foreign Policy

Economic Relations: A Sri Lankan Perspective
Diplomacy · Economics · International Relations · Pakistan · Sri Lanka

Economic Relations: A Sri Lankan Perspective

Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.Leave a comment

“Introduction Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have very vibrant political and military relations. Sri Lanka also has excellent cultural and social relations with the former, which are longstanding and have withstood the test of time. The same cannot be said about the economic relations between the two countries. It is important for two sovereign states…… Continue reading Economic Relations: A Sri Lankan Perspective

Military · Public Diplomacy · Sri Lanka

The Role of Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Public Diplomacy in the Post Conflict Scenario

Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.Leave a comment

This study focuses on building the image of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces with special attention to the post-conflict context. The Sri Lankan Forces featured significantly in a variety of discussions since the culmination of the war. And a majority of these discussions presented a negative image of the Forces. Therefore, an analysis will be…… Continue reading The Role of Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Public Diplomacy in the Post Conflict Scenario

Indian Ocean Region · International Relations · Maritime Policy · Sri Lanka

Maritime Safety and Security Challenges: A Sri Lankan Perspective

Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.Leave a comment

Abstract Island countries of the Indian Ocean Region face many maritime security challenges, such as piracy, trafficking of illicit drugs and people, environmental concerns, border security etc. Straddled centrally in the region, Sri Lanka has issues unique to itself like its close proximity to the Sea Lanes of Communication, the nuclear power status of its…… Continue reading Maritime Safety and Security Challenges: A Sri Lankan Perspective

Turkey and Israel resume relations after six years
Diplomacy · International Relations

Turkey and Israel resume relations after six years

Bhagya Senaratne, Ph.D.Leave a comment

Twenty-sixteen is proving to be quite a critical year with a variety of notable incidents ranging from natural calamities to changing dynamic in on-going conflicts to presidential campaigns to states valuing sovereignty over regionalism taking place across the world. And while the world’s attention was focused on the United Kingdom exiting the European Union (EU)…… Continue reading Turkey and Israel resume relations after six years