Analyses Sri Lanka’s foreign policymaking towards China

Dr Bhagya Senaratne launched her book From Friendship to Dependency: Analysing Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policymaking Towards China at a recent event held at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo.

Speaking at the event, Dr Senaratne mentioned that her book examines why Sri Lanka’s relations with China have been criticised for financial over-reliance and allegations of a ‘debt trap.’ She argues that these relations are deeply influenced by domestic political dynamics, including the roles of state leaders, foreign policy executives, and strategic culture.

The event also included a panel discussion, attended by Admiral Jayanath Colombage, former Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr Pavithra Jayawardena, Head of the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo and Rear Admiral YN Jayarathna, former Chief Hydrographer and Maritime Analyst. Admiral Colombage stated: “This publications sheds light on Sri Lanka’s locational importance and about the support Sri Lanka received at times when it was isolated in the international arena.”

In her remarks, Dr Pavithra Jayawardena, Head of the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo stated: “This book is important in four key ways: it is rich in data compilations, offers a vast amount of ideas for future research prospects, is theoretically very rich as it focuses on Neoclassical Realism, and presents an alternative narrative, challenging dominant world views.”

“Understanding our history is very important for decision making. This publication is a testament to why appreciating the past leads to better policymaking,” stated Admiral YN Jayarathna, former Chief Hydrographer and Maritime Analyst, during his remarks.

Dr Senaratne’s book uses Neoclassical Realism to grant agency to the decision-making processes adopted by Sri Lankan bureaucrats, shifting the focus away from the PRC’s positionality.

Dr. Bhagya Senaratne is an independent scholar. She was the first Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, the inaugural BRI Postdoctoral Fellow of Global Asia at the Center for Global Asia, New York University Shanghai, China, and a Senior Lecturer at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. She co-edited Pakistan-Sri Lanka Relations: A Story of Friendship (2017) and Sri Lanka’s Post-Independence Defence Policy: Past, Present and Future Projections (2023). She completed her PhD in International Relations from the University of Colombo.

The book launch was attended by the diplomatic corps, academics, retired diplomats, students and well-wishers.

Panellists Admiral Colombage, Dr Jayawardena and RAdm Jayarathna in conversation with author Dr Bhagya Senaratne

Dr Bhagya Senaratne presenting a copy of the book to Amal Jayawardena, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, University of Colombo.