Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits

Oct 30, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits

On 15 May 2024, US Congressman Wiley Nickel introduced House Resolution 1230, marking the latest congressional effort to address the long-standing grievances of the Tamil people. The resolution recognises the hundreds of thousands of lives lost during Sri Lanka’s nearly 30-year long armed conflict. It also seeks to ensure nonrecurrence of past violence, including the Tamil Genocide, by supporting the right to self-determination of Eelam Tamil people and their call for an independence referendum.

May 4, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Amresh Gunasingham |Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits |Jay Caldwell |Danielle Watson

Sri Lanka’s latest anti-drugs campaign, in which over 50,000 people have been arrested since late 2023, has come under scrutiny at home and abroad over mass arrests and detentions, particularly of young people. Since the operation codenamed ‘Yukthiya’, or justice, commenced in December 2023, police and military personnel have conducted regular raids on homes and searched other locations around the country.

Apr 30, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits |Songshan Huang |Jay Caldwell |Danielle Watson

Sri Lanka finds itself amid a multitude of challenges, from economic woes to corruption scandals. Domestically, the surge in drug consumption, particularly among healthy-age adults and schoolchildren, poses a grave concern. Despite having national and international backing, community-led programs in prevention and rehabilitation fall short of making any impact. This is because they lack root-level eradication strategies.

Feb 13, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Wee Chian Koh |Shankaran Nambiar |Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits |Muhammad Rafi Bakri

Brunei’s post-pandemic recovery has been weaker than expected. The economy grew only marginally in 2023 — after contracting the previous two years — with the level of output lower than a decade ago. The economic stagnation raises questions about Brunei’s future prosperity. The hydrocarbon-based economic model, which has served the country well for decades, is ripe for change. Brunei’s economy has struggled to recover despite the country’s success in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feb 12, 2024 | eastasiaforum.org | Shankaran Nambiar |Liam Gammon |Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits |Muhammad Rafi Bakri

The Malaysian economy has proved its resilience yet again, achieving a growth rate of 3.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2023. Though this was a reasonable rate given the rather tepid global environment, it was only marginally larger than the 2.9 per cent that was marked for the second quarter of 2023. Malaysia’s focus extends beyond the pace of its growth. There has been disquiet on the economic front even as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has tried to keep the coalition going.