Washington, D.C. – February 15, 2026:

Leading geopolitical analyst and author Asanga Abeyagoonasekera participated in a featured discussion at the 2026 Virtual Conference, hosted by the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) at Harvard University, engaging a global audience of emerging student leaders on geopolitics, foreign affairs, institutional resilience, and leadership in an increasingly volatile world.

During the interactive session, Abeyagoonasekera explored the central themes of his new book, Winds of Change, examining how small states navigate intensifying great-power competition, democratic stress, and economic fragility. Drawing from his experience in national security, foreign policy, governance reform work with the International Monetary Fund, and multilateral advisory engagements, he emphasised that foresight and strong institutions are essential to preserving sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

Responding to questions from student delegates across multiple regions, he discussed the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape, the mounting pressures faced by smaller states amid major-power rivalry, and the growing intersection between economic governance and national security. He underscored that resilience—rather than size—ultimately determines a state’s capacity to withstand external shocks and internal crises.

“The depth and rigor of the questions reflected a generation that is thinking seriously about power, governance, and long-term strategy,” Abeyagoonasekera noted following the event. “In a fragmented and unpredictable global order, investing in institutional integrity and anticipatory governance is no longer optional—it is a strategic necessity.”

The session formed part of HPAIR’s flagship Virtual Conference 2026, which convened students and young professionals from around the world to engage in dialogue with policymakers, scholars, and practitioners on pressing global challenges.

Abeyagoonasekera’s participation further contributes to the international dialogue surrounding Winds of Change, published by World Scientific, a work that analyzes domestic political instability from external influences, the shifting balance of power across Asia and the structural forces reshaping the global order.

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of  the 15th  and wee hours of 16th  February 2026, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended twenty five (25) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kankesanthurai, Jaffna.

The two seized boats and the 25 Indian fishermen  will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on February 18 or 19, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

During the month, which lasts 29 or 30 days, Muslims observing the fast will refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, typically for a period of 12 to 15 hours, depending on their location.

Muslims believe Ramadan is the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.

The fast entails abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations during daylight hours to achieve greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of God.

Why does Ramadan start on different dates every year?

Ramadan begins 10 to 12 days earlier each year. This is because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, with months that are 29 or 30 days long.

For nearly 90 percent of the world’s population living in the Northern Hemisphere, the number of fasting hours will be a bit shorter this year and will continue to decrease until 2031, when Ramadan will encompass the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

For fasting Muslims living south of the equator, the number of fasting hours will be longer than last year.

Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by 11 days, Ramadan will be observed twice in the year 2030 – first beginning on January 5 and then starting on December 26.

Fasting hours around the world

The number of daylight hours varies across the world.

Since it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, this Ramadan, people living there will have the shortest fasts, lasting about 12 to 13 hours on the first day, with the duration increasing throughout the month.

People in southern countries like Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa will have the longest fasts, lasting about 14 to 15 hours on the first day. However, the number of fasting hours will decrease throughout the month.

[Aljazeera]