Media Release by Asian Geopolitical Strategic Affairs Forum

Asian Geopolitical Strategic Affairs Council (AGSAC), a regional initiative aimed at monitoring geopolitical developments in the region, enhancing democratic values through the promotion of ethical governance and ethical media practices, is being established by a group of distinguished experts in international relations, economics, political science and media institutions in Sri Lanka and Asian region. AGSAF will be guided by a team of leading experts, academics and professional media-personnel as Members of the Board of Directors. Deshamanya Prof. Mohan Munasinghe will be the President and Mr. Sugeeswara P. Senadhira, media, research, and diplomacy veteran, will serve as the Secretary General of AGSAC. Its overseas members include Mr Tarun Basu, Secretary General Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi, Dr Nishchal Pandey, Convenor, Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT), Kathmandu, Prof Shahab E Khan, Executive Director, Bangladesh Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Dhaka, Eng. Sloan Liu Yang, Director, Global Initiative Implementation Alliance, Chongqing and Prof Moonis Ahmar, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi.

Sri Lanka, though enjoying adult franchise since 1931, nevertheless continue to grapple with limited openness to broader democratic engagement in addition to differences of race, religion, caste, class and region. The complexity has further increased due to the presence of fragmented political party environment, complex preferential voting system, at times, hindering effective debate on important local, regional and international matters. The mass media are increasingly recognized as playing a crucial role in free and democratic elections. In most of democratic countries, media institutions, individual journalists and the media in general have adopted codes of conduct, or ethical and professional standards, either voluntarily or through laws, governing the behaviour of political parties and candidates in elections.

Moreover, Sri Lanka’s failure in foreign policy to strategically engage with shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region and beyond has had tangible repercussions across multiple sectors including but not limited to foreign direct investment, export-led industries, strategic partnership and environmental initiatives. Similarly, educational and research collaborations that could have been fostered bilateral and multilateral channels have not been adequately pursued.

In recognition of these challenges, AGSAC seeks to contribute to the cultivation of more informed legislative institutions and responsible mass media sector. In the recent local government elections in Sri Lanka, more than 8,000 people’s representatives were elected to 340 local government bodies such as Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradesheeya Sabhas (Village level institution). In light of this background, AGSAC’s first initiative will be to organize a strategic-engagement sessions for the elected people’s representatives on democratic governing practices, constitutional provisions and norms and ethics of governance.

Through these efforts, AGSAC aim to serve as a vital platform for democratic innovation, regional cooperation and leading geopolitical discussion in Sri Lanka.

Signed by

Dr. Shameera Kithmini,

Senior Assistant Secretary & Media Spokesperson +94702759179