Sri Lanka Prime Minister speaks at Oxford University

Dr Harini Amarasuriya spoke at St Antony’s College on Tuesday, May 19, as part of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) Annual Lecture.

Her address, titled ‘The politics of development: Sri Lanka and beyond,’ explored the realities of development policy in practice, with a focus on governance, gender equality, and the influence of grassroots women’s groups on political participation in Sri Lanka.

Professor Diego Sanchez-Ancochea, head of department at OSGA, said: “We were honoured to welcome Dr Amarasuriya to Oxford to deliver the OSGA Annual Lecture.

“She offered an important and timely reflection on the relationship between politics and development, drawing on both scholarly insight and direct political experience.”

During the lecture, Dr Amarasuriya discussed how development theory collides with the complexities of real-world politics.

She considered her role as Sri Lanka’s third female prime minister and the country’s ongoing efforts to recover from its recent economic crisis.

As a social anthropologist, activist, and development practitioner, Dr Amarasuriya drew on her extensive experience to highlight the challenges of implementing reform in complex political environments.

She also emphasised the importance of productive engagement between international agencies and domestic institutions.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, covering topics such as judicial independence, the pace of political change, and the balance between academic ideals and political pragmatism.

The OSGA Annual Lecture is the department’s flagship event, designed to bring leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners to Oxford to reflect on contemporary global challenges.