Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
{{Short description|Sri Lankan politician (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
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{{BLP sources|date=May 2016}}
{{promotional|date=March 2020}}
{{COI|talk=Conflict of interest notice|date=March 2022}}
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{{Infobox person
|name=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
|image = Asanga Abeyagoonasekera 2013.jpg
|caption = Abeyagoonasekera in 2013.
|birthname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|08|21}}
|birth_place= Colombo, Sri Lanka
|alma_mater =S. Thomas' Preparatory School
Ananda College
Harvard Kennedy School
Edith Cowan University
|website = {{URL|asangaabey.com|Official website}}
}}
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera ({{langx|si|අසංග අබේගුණසේකර}}; born 21 August 1977) is a Sri Lankan academic, geopolitics and foreign policy analyst.{{cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/contributors/asanga-abeyagoonasekera/|title = Asanga Abeyagoonasekera}} He is the present Executive Director of the South Asia Foresight Network(SAFN) and a Senior Fellow at the Millennium Project in Washington DC since 2021.https://southasiaforesight.org/launch-of-safn/ He is a technical advisor to International Monetary Fund(IMF) contributed to 'Sri Lanka: Technical Assistance Report-Governance Diagnostic Assessment' published in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2023/09/29/Sri-Lanka-Technical-Assistance-Report-Governance-Diagnostic-Assessment-539804 | title=Sri Lanka: Technical Assistance Report-Governance Diagnostic Assessment }} He is a political columnist{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/columnist/asanga-abeyagoonasekera/|title=IPCS | Institute Of Peace & Conflict Studies|website=www.ipcs.org|accessdate=13 October 2023}} and author. He is a visiting professor for geopolitics and global leadership at Northern Kentucky University{{Cite web|url=https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/pscjol/programs/organizationalleadership/faculty/asanga-abeyagoonasekera.html|title=Faculty. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and a visiting lecturer in International Political Economy for The University of London in Sri Lanka Royal Institute of Colombo and teaches at the International Security at University of Colombo. Abeyagoonasekera has more than a decade of experience in government administration, serving as the head of several government institutions and positions at the board level. His commentaries on International Relations and Geopolitics are published by Observer Research Foundation New Delhi,{{cite web | url=https://www.orfonline.org/contributors/asanga-abeyagoonasekera/ | title=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera }} London School of Economics{{cite web | url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/cff/2020/12/08/sri-lanka-china-and-the-coming-biden-foreign-policy/ | title=Sri Lanka, China and the coming Biden Foreign Policy | date=8 December 2020 }} and South Asia Journal.{{cite web | url=http://southasiajournal.net/author/abeyagoonasekera/ | title=A world Challenged by Geopolitical Tensions: The Global Risk Report 2022 | date=2 December 2023 }} Abeyagoonasekera writes the monthly column Dateline Colombo {{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/columnist/asanga-abeyagoonasekera/|title = IPCS | Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies}} for IPCS think tank in New Delhi.
Abeyagoonasekera is the former founding director general of the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.lk/news/asanga-appointed-dg-of-institute-of-national-security-studies-sri-lanka/56-560263|title=Asanga appointed DG of Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka | Daily FT|website=www.ft.lk|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
He was the former Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) which is a Sri Lankan government foreign policy think tank.{{Cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=37458|title=Island.lk: Asanga Abeyagoonasekera appointed Executive Director of LKIIRSS|accessdate=13 October 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kadirgamarinstitute.lk/ |title=Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies website |access-date=2016-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412131425/http://www.kadirgamarinstitute.lk/ |archive-date=2016-04-12 |url-status=dead }}
Early life and career
Abeyagoonasekera is the only son of Ossie Abeygunasekera, who was the leader of Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP), presidential candidate and Member of Parliament from Colombo District. Ossie Abeygunasekera was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide attack in 1994.
His primary and secondary education was at S. Thomas' Preparatory School and Ananda College, he gained BSc in computer science and an MBA from the Edith Cowan University. He has studied at the Harvard Kennedy School, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, India School of Business, Oxford University and Yale University. He attended Harvard Kennedy School under the US-South Asia leadership program to study counter-terrorism.
He is a Fellow of the National Defense University Washington DC Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies NESA and Asia-Pacific Center for Security StudiesAPCSS Hawaii and US State Department IVLP{{Cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=124870 |title=The Island |access-date=2016-11-23 |archive-date=2016-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124092649/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=124870 |url-status=dead }}
Having worked in the Sri Lankan telecommunication sector as a project manager at Sri Lanka Telecom and Hutchison Lanka from 2001 to 2005.
Abeyagoonasekera joined the government sector in 2005 and was appointed chairman of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC){{Cite web|url=https://sundaytimes.lk/091213/BusinessTimes/bt19.html|title=Sri Lanka aims to make the best tuna in the world|website=sundaytimes.lk|accessdate=13 October 2023}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=934&issue=211|title=Business Today: When You See a Barrier, Just Cross It Over|accessdate=13 October 2023|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123231441/http://businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=934&issue=211|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=17474116|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124070815/http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=17474116|url-status=dead|title=Lanka Business Online: Going Deep – Sri Lanka starts whale watching|archive-date=24 November 2012}} following the Asian tsunami in 2004 which destroyed many fishery harbours. He held the post until 2010 after the successful reconstruction of the fishery harbours and transforming the loss-making cooperation into profit,.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/04/fin02.asp|title=|| Financial|website=archives.dailynews.lk|accessdate=13 October 2023}} He was appointed chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency in 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.slfea.lk/|title=Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency - SLFEA|date=12 November 2019|accessdate=13 October 2023}}[http://target.lk/article.php?article=868 Target.lk: Asanga Abeyagoonasekera Assumes Duties As Chairman Of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency] and served until 2011. Abeyagoonasekera was also on the board of directors of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority from 2005 to 2010.
He was appointed as executive director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies government's foreign policy think tank under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure, the institute published the first foreign policy research journal the 'Kadirgamar Review'{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.lk/News/release-of-the-kadirgamar-review-volume-3/56-379543 | title=Release of the Kadirgamar Review, Volume 3 | Daily FT }} and conducted numerous research activities, including the postwar 'National Reconciliation Conference'.{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.lk/News/kadirgamar-institute-launches-conference-report-on-role-of-religion-in-reconciliation/56-232762 | title=Kadirgamar Institute launches conference report on 'Role of Religion in Reconciliation' | Daily FT }} In 2012 Kadirgamar Institute's first MOU with an Indian think tank ICWA was signed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/120318/Education/ed16.html|title=Kadirgamar Institute links up with the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi|website=www.sundaytimes.lk|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
On 10 April 2015, he was appointed as a board director at the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka (IBSL) by the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/7134-asanga-abeyagoonasekera-appointed-as-board-director-for-ibsl|title=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera appointed as Board Director for IBSL|publisher=News.lk|date=13 April 2015|accessdate=10 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216211831/http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/7134-asanga-abeyagoonasekera-appointed-as-board-director-for-ibsl|url-status=dead}} He served as a consultant to the Ministry of Finance until May 2016.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
In 2016 August he was appointed as the founding Director General of the new Security Think tank, the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka.{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.lk/article/560263/Asanga-appointed-DG-of-Institute-of-National-Security-Studies-Sri-Lanka | title=Asanga appointed DG of Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka | Daily FT }} During his tenure the institute published multiple defense and security publications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20190821/282548724922673|title=|via=PressReader|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
In 2012 Abeyagoonasekera established "Dirisaviya Foundation" a non-governmental not for profit foundation which operates several initiatives including ipaidabribe.lk,{{cite web|url=http://www.ipaidabribe.lk |title=I Paid A Bribe | Report Now |publisher=Ipaidabribe.lk |date= |accessdate=2022-06-10}} a powerful global crowdsourced anticorruption website, the project Global Dignity for School Children,{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldignity.org |title=Global Dignity |publisher=Global Dignity |date= |accessdate=2022-06-10}} and the Millennium Project Foresight initiative of Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|url=https://www.millennium-project.org/press/|title=Press|accessdate=13 October 2023}} Dirisaviya Foundation also launched two mobile apps – Sri Dalada{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/mk/app/sri-dalada-app/id910046450?mt=8 |title=Sri Dalada App on the App Store |website=iTunes |access-date=2016-06-16 |archive-date=2016-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921184346/https://itunes.apple.com/mk/app/sri-dalada-app/id910046450?mt=8 |url-status=dead }} and Sinhala Poets.{{Cite web |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prezire.sinhalapoets |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-06-16 |archive-date=2016-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927232409/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prezire.sinhalapoets |url-status=dead }} The foundation conducted the memorial lecture of the national hero Ven.S.Mahinda Thero.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLaz-CYaExM | title=S. Mahinda himi Gunasamaruwa VTS_01_1.mp4 – YouTube | website=YouTube | date=23 November 2016 }}
Abeyagoonasekera is the founding curator of the Global Shapers Colombo Hub and the Global Dignity Country Chair for Sri Lanka.
His research work on international relations and geopolitics is published by Routledge, IGI, NUS ISAS, Emerald, Cambridge University, Hudson Institute, South Asia Journal, ORF India, LSE and IPCS.
Recognition
In 2012, he was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalshapers.org/shapers/asanga-abeyagoonasekera|title=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera|publisher=Global Shapers Community|accessdate=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216034319/https://www.globalshapers.org/shapers/asanga-abeyagoonasekera|archive-date=16 February 2016|url-status=dead}}
In 2015, he was awarded 'Ambassador of Knowledge' from the Life learning Academia in Slovenia{{cite web | url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/06/08/ambassador-of-knowledge-awarded-to-asanga-abeyagoonasekera/ | title=LankaWeb – Ambassador of Knowledge awarded to Asanga Abeyagoonasekera }}
In 2021, he was appointed to the 'Global Advisory council' at the Apolitical Academy Global(AAG) along with the former three time New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and several other distinguished individuals.{{Cite web|url=https://ceylontoday.lk/news/lankan-appointed-to-aag-s-global-advisor-network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421171207/https://ceylontoday.lk/news/lankan-appointed-to-aag-s-global-advisor-network|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2021|title=Ceylon Today}}
Towards a Better World Order
In 2015 Abeyagoonasekera published the book Towards a Better World Order.{{Cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/88209|title=None|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
The Modi Doctrine
In 2016 he authored a chapter for The Modi Doctrine: New Paradigms in India’s Foreign Policy{{cite web | url=http://www.ft.lk/article/561899/Asanga-Abeyagoonasekera-contributes-chapter-to%C2%A0‘Modi-Doctrine:-New-Paradigms-in%C2%A0India’s-Foreign-Policy’ | title=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera contributes chapter to 'Modi Doctrine: New Paradigms in India's Foreign Poli | Daily FT }}
Sri Lanka at Crossroads
In 2018 he authored a book Sri Lanka at Crossroads: Geopolitical challenges and National Interests{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Sri-Lanka-Crossroads-Geopolitical-Challenges-ebook/dp/B07M7MF9DL/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=asanga+sri+lanka&qid=1553409975&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull|title = Sri Lanka at Crossroads: Geopolitical Challenges and National Interests|date = 4 January 2019| publisher=World Scientific }} published by World Scientific Singapore.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/11167|doi = 10.1142/11167|title = Sri Lanka at Crossroads|year = 2019|last1 = Abeyagoonasekera|first1 = Asanga|isbn = 978-981-327-672-7|s2cid = 158838891}} The book was endorsed by former national security advisor of India Shivshankar Menon, former foreign Minister Singapore George Yeo, and many other academics from around the world. In the book, Abeyagoonasekera revisits Halford Mackinder's geopolitical theories while highlighting the geostrategic importance of Sri Lanka.{{cite web | last=Singh | first=Swaran | title='Sri Lanka at Crossroads': Geopolitical Challenges and National Interests | website=Daily News | date=28 December 2018 | url=http://archives1.dailynews.lk/2018/12/28/features/172530/%E2%80%98sri-lanka-crossroads%E2%80%99-geopolitical-challenges-and-national-interests | access-date=13 October 2023}}
"Conundrum of an Island"
In 2021 he authored Conundrum of an Island{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VDWD4BB/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1619513965&ref_=tmm_kin_swatch_0&sr=1-1| title=Conundrum of an Island: Sri Lanka's Geopolitical Challenges | date=15 January 2021 | publisher=World Scientific }} published by World Scientific Singapore.{{Cite book|url=https://worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/12028|doi=10.1142/12028|title=Conundrum of an Island|year=2021|last1=Abeyagoonasekera|first1=Asanga|isbn=978-981-12-2784-4|s2cid=224866292}} The book was endorsed by Prof.Walter Russell Mead, Dr.Parag Khanna, Dr.Raja C. Mohan, Dr.David Brewster and several other distinguished academics.
"Teardrop Diplomacy"
In 2023 he authored Teardrop Diplomacy: China's Sri Lanka Foray{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/teardrop-diplomacy-9789356401174/ | title=Teardrop Diplomacy }} published by Bloomsbury. The book was endorsed by Dr. David Brewster, Dr.C. Raja Mohan, Dr. Roger Kangas, Daniel Sachs, Lisa Witter and several other academics. Abeyagoonasekera introduces China's ‘strategic trap’ in Sri Lanka and the implications to Sri Lankan foreign policy during the rule of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.{{Cite book|title=Teardrop Diplomacy China's Sri Lanka Foray|first=Asanga|last=Abeyagoonasekera|date=18 February 2023|publisher=Bloomsbury India|isbn=978-9356401204 }}
The Sacred Tooth Relic of Sri Lanka
He authored the children's book The Sacred Tooth Relic of Sri Lanka.{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Tooth-Relic-Sri-Lanka-ebook/dp/B01C98X8D6|title = The Sacred Tooth Relic of Sri Lanka|date = 25 February 2016| publisher=Asanga Abeyagoonasekera }}
References
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External links
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- {{LinkedIn URL|https://www.linkedin.com/in/asanga-abeyagoonasekera-36496329}}
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Category:Alumni of S. Thomas' Preparatory School, Kollupitiya