Pathfinder Foundation
The Pathfinder Foundation is an independent, non–partisan think tank based in Sri Lanka with a strong network of global partners. 📝
The overarching problem in Sri Lanka is the lack of people who have the capacity and commitment to engage in informed discussions on the critical issues facing the country. The lack of an informed discourse is particularly debilitating in the area of economic reforms in general, and education, infrastructure and trade reforms in particular. Deep-rooted attitudes based on statist and protectionist ideologies about private initiatives, market mechanisms, governance and globalization prevent effective reforms being implemented . Popular notions in Sri Lanka about reforms in education, infrastructure, trade and other key areas are out of step with the changing notions worldwide. Vociferous anti-reformers keeps the discourse one-sided. Other voices need to be heard and accommodated. Political leaders, both past and present, have generally found it easier to appease to popular sentiments than to take the politically risky path of meaningful reforms. There are no civil society organizations as rallying point for liberal minded citzens that focus on these vital issues. The Pathfinder Foundation will try to fill at least part of this void.
At the Scent of Cinnamon By Jennifer Moragoda
https://island.lk/at-the-scent-of-cinnamon/
25/08/2026
Katharine Graham: A remarkable Washington presence By Milinda Moragoda – Founder, Pathfinder Foundation
Katharine Graham: A remarkable Washington presence Among the many people I came to know during my years dealing with Washington, Katharine Graham stands out as one of the most remarkable.
20/08/2026
Woven into the Landscape:The Paedura in Sri Lankan Life By Jennifer Moragoda
Woven into the Landscape:The Paedura in Sri Lankan Life From the Pathfinder Collection By Jennifer Moragoda ✍️ [email protected] Traditional utilitarian objects have a particular hold on me because they preserve within them stories that make intelligible ways of life that once existed or are gradually disappearing. Made by hand for use in...
Pathfinder Foundation July 2026 Highlights!
10/08/2026
What the US-Iran conflict reveals about the future of warfare By Milinda Moragoda, Founder, Pathfinder Foundation
What the US-Iran conflict reveals about the future of warfare The current phase of the conflict involving Iran may ultimately be remembered less for its military operations than for what it reveals about the changing nature of warfare.
07/08/2026
India at 80: From Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ to Viksit Bharat 2047—A view from Sri Lanka By Milinda Moragoda – Founder, Pathfinder Foundation
India at 80: From Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ to Viksit Bharat 2047—A view from Sri Lanka As India approaches the centenary of its independence, its greatest strength has been the continuity of its national mission. Successful nations build through continuity as much as through change.
07/08/2026
Opinion | What The US-Iran Conflict Reveals About the Future of Warfare By Milinda Moragoda - Founder, Pathfinder Foundation
Opinion | What The US-Iran Conflict Reveals About the Future of Warfare If the current Iran conflict leaves one enduring strategic lesson, it is this: the age of total war has given way to an era of constrained, multidomain competition.
31/07/2026
The Pathfinder Foundation, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in Colombo and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), held a symposium on "Strengthening Pali Language Studies in Sri Lanka" on Friday, 24 July 2026, in Colombo.
The event brought together representatives of the three main Nikayas, eminent members of the Maha Sangha, scholars in Pali and Buddhist Studies, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Deputy High Commissioner Maitrey Kulkarni, Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda, Acting Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Roshni Thomson, General Secretary of the Urumayake Ulpatha R.A.D. Sirisena, university academics, Pirivena educators, policymakers, and education experts.
Delivering the keynote address, Senior Professor Ven. Medagampitiye Vijithadhamma Thera highlighted the importance of Pali as a knowledge system that has preserved Sri Lanka’s cultural, philosophical, and spiritual heritage for centuries. He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among schools, Pirivenas, and universities, while highlighting the role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in preserving Pali manuscripts and expanding access to Pali knowledge.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha reaffirmed India’s continued support for promoting Pali studies and recognized Sri Lanka’s unique contribution to preserving the language through Theravada Buddhist traditions. He also highlighted India’s assistance in supporting the reprinting of important Pali grammar texts, including Namamala and Balawatharo.
The symposium reaffirmed the shared commitment of religious leaders, scholars, and education experts to preserve and promote Pali as an invaluable part of South Asia’s cultural heritage.
30/07/2026
The democratic adaptation gap: Can democracies respond before the streets take over? - By Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda
The democratic adaptation gap: Can democracies respond before the streets take over? India’s recent youth protests should therefore be viewed within this broader global context. They are not simply about one policy or one government. They are symptomatic of a larger transformation affecting democracies everywhere.
30/07/2026
Sri Lanka’s Unfinished Task - By Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda
Sri Lanka’s Unfinished Task Sixteen years after the military defeat of the LTTE, former minister Milinda Moragoda reflects on Sri Lanka’s defining social and political crossroads. Armed conflict has ended, yet national fragmentation—fueled by political polarization, societal divisions, and economic hardship—remains deepl...
Category
Contact the organization
Telephone
Website
Address
339/6, Negombo Road, Peliayagoda
Colombo
11830
Opening Hours
| Monday | 08:30 - 16:45 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 16:45 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 16:45 |
| Thursday | 08:30 - 16:45 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 16:45 |