BCIS seminar on 22 Feb to focus on Sri Lanka’s future post-Independence

The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will be holding its first Signature Seminar for 2018 on 22 February (Thursday) from 3.00 pm onwards, under the theme ‘1948 Independence: What then and now for Sri Lanka and South Asia.’

The seminar is being organised in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Independence and will feature three sessions. The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (India) Institute of Indian Thought Director Professor Rajeev Bhargava, , who will speak on ‘Shaping of South Asia through Independence.’ Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation Chairperson and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and BCIS Director Dr Harinda Vidanage will also address the session.

The first panel will be chaired by former Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, and will include Professor Bhargava and University of Colombo Emeritus Professor Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda, who will speak on ‘Socio-Political Transformations in Sri Lanka with reflections on South Asian cases.’ 

The second panel will be chaired by University of Colombo Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Senior Professor Nayani Melegoda, and will include Pathfinders Foundation Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives Director Admiral Dr Jayanath Colombage, who will elaborate on ‘Security Policy Challenges ahead,’ while Ministry of Development Strategies Advisor Anushka Wijesinha will focus on ‘Economic Perspectives for the Future’, and BCIS Deputy Director George I. H. Cooke will highlight ‘Foreign Policy Challenges ahead.’