Sri Lanka- the Strategic Issues

Hosted by: WA Branch

The event will start on: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 6:00 PM

And will end on: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 7:00 PM

At St Catherine’s College

2 Park Road , Nedlands Western Australia

Posted by: national   

Speaker:  Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe

Titleof Talk: The Strategic Importance of Sri Lanka

"In historical perspective, Sri Lanka's strategic position in Western strategic thought acquired salience most notably with the emergence of the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and British imperial projects. which invested the Indian Ocean east-west trade routes. Similarly, Sri Lanka's strategic position became of paramount importance during the Second World War, when the Japanese threatened to invade India and raided Sri Lanla's ports in an effort to destroy the British Eastern Fleet. After Sri Lanka attained independence from Britain in 1948, India increasinly viewed Sri Lanka's strategic location of primary importance to its national security and this theme has since overshadowed bilateral relations between the two countries and led to sustained tensions. In more recent times the rise of China and its interests in Sri Lanka have complicated the equation, which has seen growing rivalry between India and China take place in Sri Lanka. This is likely to emerge as a major point of contention in the developing 'Great Game' scenario in the Indian Ocean, which will have wider strategic implications for the Indian Ocean Regions.

About the Speaker

Sergei DeSilva-Rabasinghe is an analyst specializing in South Asian and Indian Ocean Region politics and security, with particular interest in geopolitics and counterinsurgery. He is a regular contributor to Defence Review Asia, Asia Pacific Defence Reporter and Asian Defence and Diplomacy and has in addition published his work in Janes Intelligence Review, The Diplomat, The Australian and the Australian Finacial Review. Sergei is presently undertaking his Masters by Research at Curtain University and is analysing the evolution of Australia's defence policy in the Indian Ocean Region.

The meeting is open to AIIA members and Guests. Cost to members $3.00, non-members $5.00. Members are invited to join the guest speaker for dinner afterwards.