Understanding global affairs through a Sri Lankan perspective.
Research and analysis on China, South Asia, foreign policy, maritime security and the Indo-Pacific.
Bhagya Senaratne · Independent Scholar of International Relations
Research, teaching and policy engagement
I am an independent scholar of International Relations whose research examines foreign policy, China’s engagement with South Asia, maritime security and the strategic choices of small and medium states. My work brings together academic research, policy analysis and international dialogue, with particular attention to Sri Lanka’s place in regional and global affairs.
Previously, I served as the inaugural Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in Sri Lanka, the first Belt and Road Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow of Global Asia at the Center for Global Asia, New York University Shanghai, and a Senior Lecturer at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. At NYU Shanghai, my work included research and knowledge exchange on the Belt and Road Initiative and South Asia, the CGA BRI Talk Series and communications for the Mapping Global China initiative.
My academic career has involved teaching and engaging with more than 5,500 students, alongside collaboration and dialogue with scholars, policymakers, diplomats and practitioners.
Read more about my background and experience →
Research areas
China and South Asia
China’s foreign policy, the Belt and Road Initiative, Sri Lanka–China relations and regional development.
Maritime Security and the Indian Ocean
Maritime geopolitics, ocean politics, security cooperation and strategic competition.
Small-State Foreign Policy
Strategic agency, foreign-policy decision-making, hedging and great-power relations.
Indo-Pacific and Regional Security
Regional order, security partnerships, strategic competition and international relations.
See my research and teaching interests →
Featured publication
From Friendship to Dependency: Analysing Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policymaking Towards China
Bhagya Senaratne · KW Publishers
This book examines Sri Lanka’s foreign-policy decision-making towards China between 1994 and 2015. Using a Neoclassical Realist perspective, it explores how international pressures interact with domestic political dynamics, leaders’ perceptions and institutional influences.
Sri Lanka: M. D. Gunasena · Sri Lanka: Jump Books · India: Amazon
Selected research and commentary
Navigating Seas of Cooperation: China’s Military Diplomacy in Sri Lanka
An examination of the defence dimension of China–Sri Lanka relations and its implications for South Asian security. Read the article →
Geopolitical Realities Faced by Small States
A comparative examination of the geopolitical challenges confronting Sri Lanka and New Zealand in their relationships with neighbouring regional powers. Read the article →
Sri Lankan Elections and an Indian Ocean Tug-of-War
An analysis of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic choices and the engagement of major powers in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Read the article →
Browse all publications and writing →
Media, conferences and international engagement
My work involves engaging with policymakers, academics, media organisations and international research communities through interviews, conferences, workshops and public discussions.
- August 2026: National Bureau of Asian Research webinar on how emerging political leaders in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka are navigating new geopolitical landscapes.
- July 2026: 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, discussing strategic dilemmas confronting South Asian small and medium states.
- May–June 2026: Interviews with Ceylon Today on Sri Lanka–China relations and foreign policy.
- May 2026: Launch of From Friendship to Dependency at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies.
Interviews and presentations · Guest talks and academic presentations · Selected engagements and photographs
Research, dialogue and collaboration
I welcome opportunities to contribute to academic research, policy discussions, international conferences, university teaching and collaborative projects. I am particularly interested in engaging with universities, research institutions, think tanks, policymakers and practitioners working on international relations, China studies, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Professional enquiries: senaratne.bhagya@gmail.com
