Srimal Fernando is a Doctoral Fellow at Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), India. Fernando was the recipient of the prestigious O.P. Jindal scholarship to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Affairs on “Political and Economic Integration in South Asia: A Prerequisite for Regional Community Buildingâ€. He is also the Advisor / Global Editor of Diplomatic Society for South Africa and, the winner of the 2018/2019 ‘Best Journalist of the Year’ award in South Africa .He has been the recipient of many other accolades for his journalistic work over the years including the GCA Media Awards for 2016. Having graduated with a Masters of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree in Sociology from the South Asian University (SAU) in India, he was a South Asian University (SAU) Scholarship holder awarded under the SAARC umbrella spanning 8 regional countries in 2016 His former positions and experience include the handling of media and publications as a Publication Assistant /Press Officer to the Office of the Former President of Sri Lanka H.E Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the Presidential Secretariat as well as a Visiting Lecturer and International Speaker for several reputed academic institutions. A highly skilled analyst, he has undertaken various roles over the years; as Regional Advisor to International Alert UK Peace Building –INGO, he headed the Business for Peace Alliance, a consortium of 25 Regional Bossiness Chambers of Commerce during the Sri Lanka conflict period. He has also, in the past, undertaken the effective coordination of EU, UN and INGO funded projects and has been a key thought leader in the Multi party Political dialogue process in Sri Lanka. Over the years, as an Advisor, he has worked with policy makers for various peace building and conflict resolution initiatives that include working on the Post conflict Human Development Index (HDI) Report after the liberation of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. In the field of politics, and Policy affairs, Fernando is a specialist, with over ten years of first hand experience in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Upon completion of his Doctoral studies , it is his aspiration to pursue a career in politics and to steer his island nation towards the path of a new and robust foreign policy.
After more than two months of coronavirus-induced lockdown India’s closest neighbour, Sri Lanka, is slowly easing its lockdowns across cities. Following the deadly coronavirus epidemic in Sri Lanka, nearly 1024 have so far been hospitalised...
There is an expectation that coronavirus pandemic would be under control to a certain degree. Sri Lanka needs to look at effective structural adjustment programs (SAP) to spur the overall economic growth. However, if the coronavirus pandemi...
The spillover effects of a global economic downturn due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis is likely to curtail Sri Lanka and Maldives annual economic growth. Furthermore, the coronavirus cases climbed to more than 1450 cases in both these s...
Maldives will take a decisive turn along the path of democracy when the potentially important South Asian nation elects over 950 councilors in the forthcoming local council elections. In the ten years since the Decentralization Act was pass...
The suicide attacks on Easter Sunday a year ago by the nine suicide bombers belonging to National Thawheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), linked to Islamic State (ISIS), killing over 270 people and injuring several others, appears to be more closely link...
The deadliest suicide bombings in Sri Lanka’s recent history occurred one year ago on Easter Sunday shocking the island nation and the governments around the world. In the space of half an hour from 8:45 AM on April 21, 2019, nine suicide b...
