Smruti S Pattanaik

The writer is Research Fellow, IDSA.

Nepal elections: Political stability may elude the nation again

Nepal may brace for another round of political instability in the next five years.

2y ago

Sri Lanka Crisis: Why is Saarc Missing in Action?

Saarc’s inability to respond to the humanitarian crisis reflects a lack of the sense of regionalism.

2y ago

Is It Sri Lanka’s ‘Arab Spring’ Moment?

Two dates – May 9 and July 9 – will remain significant for the Rajapaksa brothers in Sri Lanka.

2y ago

Return of the Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka

The victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections held on August 5 was very much anticipated, although the extent of the victory was speculated on.

4y ago

Turning Bimstec into a vehicle for regional cooperation

The 4th Bimstec summit is being held in Kathmandu after a lapse of four years. The last summit was held in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in 2014. For the Bimstec that celebrated 20 years in 2017, four summits in 20 years is not certainly a time for celebration and does not add to the credibility of the organisation that has the potential to transform the eastern South Asia.

6y ago

The future of 'Naya Pakistan'

The “second democratic transition” in Pakistan was marred with pre-poll suicide attacks which killed three contestants as well as scores of their supporters especially in Quetta.

6y ago

The unfolding political crisis in Maldives

Maldives has plunged into a major political crisis after the Supreme Court on February 2 in a judgement ordered the government to release 12 members of the parliament who were stripped off their posts and held by the government under different charges and order retrial of the case.

6y ago

Emerging geopolitics surrounding the Indian Ocean

Despite the possibility of buying back the shares from China after 60 years, the question is whether Sri Lanka's economy would allow it to buy them back. The fear expressed by economists in Sri Lanka is that the country is likely to fall into a Chinese debt-trap.

7y ago
December 4, 2022
December 4, 2022

Nepal elections: Political stability may elude the nation again

Nepal may brace for another round of political instability in the next five years.

July 24, 2022
July 24, 2022

Sri Lanka Crisis: Why is Saarc Missing in Action?

Saarc’s inability to respond to the humanitarian crisis reflects a lack of the sense of regionalism.

July 12, 2022
July 12, 2022

Is It Sri Lanka’s ‘Arab Spring’ Moment?

Two dates – May 9 and July 9 – will remain significant for the Rajapaksa brothers in Sri Lanka.

August 11, 2020
August 11, 2020

Return of the Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka

The victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections held on August 5 was very much anticipated, although the extent of the victory was speculated on.

August 31, 2018
August 31, 2018

Turning Bimstec into a vehicle for regional cooperation

The 4th Bimstec summit is being held in Kathmandu after a lapse of four years. The last summit was held in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in 2014. For the Bimstec that celebrated 20 years in 2017, four summits in 20 years is not certainly a time for celebration and does not add to the credibility of the organisation that has the potential to transform the eastern South Asia.

July 31, 2018
July 31, 2018

The future of 'Naya Pakistan'

The “second democratic transition” in Pakistan was marred with pre-poll suicide attacks which killed three contestants as well as scores of their supporters especially in Quetta.

February 12, 2018
February 12, 2018

The unfolding political crisis in Maldives

Maldives has plunged into a major political crisis after the Supreme Court on February 2 in a judgement ordered the government to release 12 members of the parliament who were stripped off their posts and held by the government under different charges and order retrial of the case.

August 8, 2017
August 8, 2017

Emerging geopolitics surrounding the Indian Ocean

Despite the possibility of buying back the shares from China after 60 years, the question is whether Sri Lanka's economy would allow it to buy them back. The fear expressed by economists in Sri Lanka is that the country is likely to fall into a Chinese debt-trap.

July 30, 2017
July 30, 2017

Maldives: Political trouble in the nascent democracy

Judicial decisions have become arbitrary since the last presidential election when the court interfered in the process and suspended the Election Commission and the Deputy Election Commission. Contempt of Court is used as a tool to silence those who criticise the judiciary's proactive policy and its open siding with the government. A bill criminalising defamation was passed by the parliament undermining free speech and media freedom.

September 22, 2016
September 22, 2016

Addressing the intractable issue

It has been a year since Nepal promulgated its republican Constitution on September 20 last year. Yet, its painful transition to a stable republic is far from over. Though some factions of the Madhesi parties are part of the government, there are others who continue to remain outside the government.