Book Reviews

Conundrum of an Island is a compilation of essays on longstanding political and cultural fissures that Sri Lanka faces. With the intensification of great power competition in the Indian Ocean and the triangular maritime power dynamics among the United States, China and India, Sri Lanka is at the heart of this strategic geography, with several challenges and opportunities. The book offers an in-depth discussion on important themes like the Easter day terror attack and national security, implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, challenges in sustaining democracy, combating a pandemic and domestic political stability, among others. Most of the essays capture the domestic viewpoint from which a wider global landscape is mapped, while also attempting to find connections and patterns towards greater geopolitical influence and its impact on domestic politics.