Regional Centre for Strategic Studies - RCSS

02/06/2026

𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞

Shayan Peris, Research/Programme Officer, RCSS has drawn attention to the widening capability-action gap confronting Sri Lanka, particularly in the areas of maritime domain awareness, inter-agency coordination, cyber resilience, and environmental response preparedness. He made these observations when he delivered a presentation on 15 May 2026 at The Asia Foundation on 'Sri Lanka’s evolving maritime security landscape and the growing range of non-traditional security challenges emerging across the Indian Ocean Region'.

The presentation examined the challenges of transnational crime, illegal fishing, environmental degradation, maritime governance gaps, and emerging technological threats shaping Sri Lanka’s maritime domain. The briefing highlighted key issues including maritime drug trafficking, trade-based money laundering, IUU fishing, marine pollution incidents, as well as the growing strategic implications of cyber threats, submarine cable vulnerabilities, unmanned systems, and AI-driven maritime technologies. It also explored potential entry points for policy engagement and regional cooperation in areas such as maritime environmental governance, fisheries governance reform, coastal community resilience, and maritime policy dialogue facilitation.

27/05/2026

𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦

Dr. Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia, Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, visited the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies on 26 May 2026 and met with the ED/RCSS, Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, and researchers at the Centre. The discussion focused on Regionalism in South Asia and evolving geopolitical developments in the region.

Ambassador Aryasinha detailed the recent and ongoing initiatives undertaken by the RCSS and its wide Alumni Network spread throughout the region in strengthening South Asian solidarity. Dr. Bajpaee impressed on the need to consider alternative forms of regional cooperation in South Asia given the absence of India–Pakistan normalization, resulting in the stagnation of SAARC and the growing pull towards external regional frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The two parties explored possibilities beyond state-led regionalism, including stronger networks among civil society, think tanks, diaspora groups, and business communities, as well as thematic “mini-lateral” cooperation on issues such as climate adaptation and maritime governance.

Ms. Chamika Wijesuriya, Ms. Thedini Herath, and Mr. Shayan Peris, Research/Programme Officers at RCSS, were associated with the discussion.

22/05/2026

𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒

A delegation from the Maldives National University (MNU) led by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts Asim Abdul Sattar visited the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) on 22 May 2026, and met with the ED/RCSS, Ambassador ( Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, to explore avenues for institutional collaboration between the RCSS and the MNU.

Noting interest in engaging closely with the RCSS given its south Asian centrality, particularly joint research initiatives in areas including ocean governance, support in capacity building and teaching excellence were identified with the aim of fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.

The RCSS assured that it would seek to draw on Maldivian researchers in its projects and programmes. Notable RCSS publications were also presented to the delegation.

The MNU delegation included Dr. Aly Shameem, Assistant Professor; Ms. Aaidha Hammad, Senior Lecturer; Ms. Asiahth Hassan, Lecturer; and Mr. Mohamed Hoodh Ibrahim, Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts of Maldives National University.
Ms. Chamika Wijesuriya and Ms. Thedini Herath, Research/Programme Officers at RCSS were also associated in the discussion.

22/05/2026

🚨 Internship Opportunity at RCSS 🚨

The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) is looking for motivated and enthusiastic interns to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for students and young professionals interested in international relations, strategic studies, foreign policy, security studies, research, and programme coordination.

We welcome individuals who are eager to learn, contribute, and grow within a dynamic research environment.

📩 Interested applicants are encouraged to send their CVs and a brief cover letter to [email protected]

Join us in contributing to critical conversations on regional and global strategic issues.

20/05/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒

A research mission from the The Clingendael Institute along with representatives from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka & Maldives, on 14 May 2026 visited the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies - RCSS and met with the ED/ RCSS, Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha.

The discussion explored how the Netherlands, through bilateral and EU partnerships with South Asian countries, could work towards strengthening maritime security, resilience, and sustainable connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), particularly in relation to Sri Lanka and the evolving regional geopolitical landscape.

It also examined potential areas of cooperation where Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of the Netherlands could partner for mutual benefit, as the two countries celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations.

The visiting delegation included Mr. Iwan Rutjens, Acting Ambassador / Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Mr. Namal Perera, Senior Policy Advisor – Political Affairs of the Embassy; Ms. Rosaline Lantink and Mr. Tobias Koster, Research Fellows at the Clingendael Institute.

Mr. Shayan Peris and Ms. Thedini Herath, Research/Programme Officers at RCSS were also associated in the discussion.

19/05/2026

𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐒𝐈𝐒) 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭s 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒)

On 11 May 2026, Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), visited the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) and met with ED/RCSS Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha.

The discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s port infrastructure and maritime issues as part of a year-long CSIS research project examining the economic and security vulnerabilities associated with global commercial port infrastructure, including the role and value addition of the United States in this domain. Mr. Shayan Peris and Ms. Thedini Herath, Research/Programme Officers at RCSS, were also associated in the discussion.

19/05/2026

𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 - 𝟒

Summary - https://shorturl.at/LtQqm

See the full report 👇

https://shorturl.at/ccfTn

13/05/2026

As Sri Lanka navigates the aftermath of its worst economic crisis since independence, the compounding shocks of Cyclone 'Ditwah' and the Middle East War have placed its fragile recovery under renewed and serious pressure. The RCSS Fourth Strategic Dialogue brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, and analysts to examine what these developments mean for Sri Lanka's debt trajectory, its reform agenda, and its place in a rapidly fragmenting global economy. With the current IMF programme ending in mid-2027 and significant debt repayments falling due from 2028, the questions examined in this dialogue concern the implications for Sri Lanka's economic future and the crucial policy choices that must now be made.

https://rcss.org/events/report-on-rcss-strategic-dialogue-4-lsquo-a-global-economy-in-the-shadow-of-war-implications-for-sri-lanka-rsquo-s-debt-recovery-rsquo/A5KrGrLMvLd3RXofNE6YjlaeXHK5uwhFpkXuXvBSAk3QQcT831HpXARLgSfb9mkp/

13/05/2026