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Ranil Wickremesinghe : The Accidental Buddhist Diplomat

Rosendal Ebbesen, Tabita LU (2025)
Abstract
This chapter contextualizes and discusses the Buddhist approach taken by Ranil Wickremesinghe (born 1949), a prominent political figure who has served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on six occasions and who held the office of the ninth President until September 2024. It analyses Wickremesinghe’s political career and his ability to navigate the complex interplay between Sinhalese Buddhist ethno-religious nationalism and the needs of other ethnic and religious communities, which has been central to his political strategy. Moreover, it investigates Wickremesinghe’s efforts to integrate Buddhist diplomacy into Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, particularly within the country’s non-alignment framework.
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
in press
subject
host publication
Figures of Buddhist Diplomacy in Modern Asia
editor
Chia, Jack Meng-Tat
publisher
Bloomsbury Academic
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ecef27ce-42f3-42de-8f9b-47e614759ea1
date added to LUP
2025-01-22 13:41:39
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:12:54
@inbook{ecef27ce-42f3-42de-8f9b-47e614759ea1,
  abstract     = {{This chapter contextualizes and discusses the Buddhist approach taken by Ranil Wickremesinghe (born 1949), a prominent political figure who has served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on six occasions and who held the office of the ninth President until September 2024. It analyses Wickremesinghe’s political career and his ability to navigate the complex interplay between Sinhalese Buddhist ethno-religious nationalism and the needs of other ethnic and religious communities, which has been central to his political strategy. Moreover, it investigates Wickremesinghe’s efforts to integrate Buddhist diplomacy into Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, particularly within the country’s non-alignment framework.}},
  author       = {{Rosendal Ebbesen, Tabita}},
  booktitle    = {{Figures of Buddhist Diplomacy in Modern Asia}},
  editor       = {{Chia, Jack Meng-Tat}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Bloomsbury Academic}},
  title        = {{Ranil Wickremesinghe : The Accidental Buddhist Diplomat}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}