Tabita Rosendal has published a new open-access book chapter on the Buddhist diplomacy of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Tabita Rosendal has published a new open‑access book chapter in Figures of Buddhist Diplomacy in Modern Asia, edited by Jack Meng‑Tat Chia, examining Ranil Wickremesinghe’s use of Buddhist diplomacy. The chapter examines Wickremesinghe's political career, highlighting his active engagement with Buddhism both domestically and internationally. Tabita argues that Wickremesinghe’s approach has been shaped by Sri Lanka’s complex interplay of communal relations, particularly between the Sinhalese Buddhist majority, led by the influential Maha Sangha, and other ethnic and religious minorities. Wickremesinghe has sought to integrate Buddhist diplomacy into Sri Lanka’s foreign policy through a non-aligned stance, balancing relations between competing powers such as China and India. Buddhist exchanges have also served as a means to strengthen Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with Buddhist-majority nations, advancing strategic objectives such as securing economic assistance. In this way, the chapter demonstrates that Wickremesinghe’s efforts exemplify how Sri Lankan leaders have strategically utilized Buddhism as a diplomatic tool to enhance international engagement and achieve national goals.

You can download and read the book open-access by clicking this link