Discussions
On March 21st 2024, a Panel Discussion was held titled ‘Economic Development and Modernization with Lessons from Japan’ at the Granbell Hotel, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Panel was moderated by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja of the Geopolitical Cartographer. The Panel included:
- H.E. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka
- Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP, Sri Lanka
- Senior Prof. H. D. Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo
On 18th September 2023, the Geopolitical Cartographer facilitated an invitation for the Patron, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to address The Ocean Nations: The 3rd Annual Indo-Pacific Islands Dialogue in New York City, organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Tokyo). Hosted on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly, the Islands Dialogue is the flagship event for Carnegie’s Indian Ocean Initiative.
The Patron engaged in a conversation with Mr. Dan Baer, Carnegie Executive Vice President, on Srilanka’s’ views, priorities, and challenges at the Japan Society in New York.
On 12th September 2023, a discussion of the Geopolitical Cartographer titled ‘Recent High Level Visits and their Indian Ocean Aspects’ took place at the Courtyard Hotel by Marriott, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka, it was moderated by Foreign Secretary Ms. Aruni Wijewardane. The participants were as follows:
- Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff to President
- High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay
- Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong
- Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka, Jean-François Pactet
- Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Hideaki Mizukoshi
On 23rd August 2023, a discussion was held by the Thai Embassy in collaboration with the Geopolitical Cartographer titled titled ‘Revisiting Southeast Asia Links: Suvarnabhumi Tambralinga and Tambapanni’ at the ‘Siam Nivasa’ No. 43, CWW Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. The Lecture was delivered by Dr. Banchar Pongpanich, Thailand’s Ancient Beads Expert and Collector.
The Discussion was preceded with opening remarks by:
H.E. Poj Hampol – Outgoing Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka
Ms. Kshenuka Seneviratne, SAC Member of the Geopolitical Cartographer
On 20th June 2023, the Geopolitical Cartographer facilitated a ‘Fireside Chat’ between the President of Sri Lanka, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Former Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, Chairman of the International Democratic Union (IDU).
The Discussion took place at the 40th Anniversary of the IDU, at Church House in Westminster, London.
On March 28th 2023, a Panel Discussion was held titled ‘Uniting for a Greener World: The Role of International Cooperation in Protecting the Environment’ at the BMICH, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Panel was moderated by Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe (Retd.) of the Geopolitical Cartographer.
The Panel included:
Mr. Erik Solheim, the Sixth and Former United Nations (UN) Environment Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and former Minister of the Environment for Norway
Mrs. Thilaka Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries
Dr. Matthew McCartney, Principal Researcher of the International Water Management Institute
On 3rd February 2023, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, discussed the Polycrisis in the Indian Ocean Region and the role of the Commonwealth, at the Inaugural Lecture of the Geopolitical Cartographer at the Courtyard Hotel by Marriot, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja of the Geopolitical Cartographer.
The additional questions were posed by:
Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya
Ravana Wijeratne