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The Spotter Force Multiplier Theory: Analyzing Kagusthan Ariaratnam’s Social Innovation in Counterterrorism and Military Intelligence
The resolution of protracted asymmetric conflicts often depends on conceptual shifts within intelligence and counterinsurgency (COIN) frameworks rather than the simple application of kinetic military power.1 During the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009), the state confronted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a highly disciplined, state-like insurgent organization that pioneered modern suicide terrorism and…
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Beyond the Battlelines: The Human Cost of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Decades after its conclusion, the Sri Lankan civil war remains a deeply studied yet profoundly painful chapter in modern history. While geopolitical analyses and military histories often dominate the discourse, the true weight of the conflict lives in the memories of those who survived it. In a powerful episode of the South Asia Democratic Forum…
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The Sovereign Shadow: National Security Coercion, Temporal Fragmentation, and the Administrative Human Rights Battle of Kagusthan Ariaratnam
This article examines the landmark administrative and human rights battle of Kagusthan Ariaratnam against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), analyzing the structural tensions between domestic national security practices and international refugee protection obligations. It addresses two fundamental questions: first, whether security agencies can leverage the legal vulnerability of refugee status to extract prolonged, coerced…
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Child Soldier to Double Agent: The Untold Story of Kagusthan Ariaratnam Spy Tiger: The 05 File
In this powerful interview, former child soldier Kagusthan Ariaratnam shares his extraordinary journey from being forcibly recruited into the Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan Civil War to becoming an intelligence operative and global peace advocate. Kagusthan’s memoir Spy Tiger: The 05 File reveals the hidden realities of war, espionage, survival, and the psychological toll…
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A Formal Disclosure and Challenge to the Professional Integrity of Professor Rohan Gunaratna: The “05” File and the Mechanics of State Deception
This open letter, authored by Kagusthan Ariaratnam (also known as Murali and code-named “05”), serves as a formal whistleblowing disclosure and a demand for historical rectification regarding his decades-long exploitation by internationally acclaimed counter-terrorism expert Dr. Rohan Gunaratna. Ariaratnam asserts that Gunaratna utilized his unique insider knowledge as a former LTTE Naval Intelligence Officer to…
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The Geopolitical Transformation of Asymmetric Naval Warfare: From the Sri Lankan Littoral to a Grand Strategy for the Strait of Hormuz
The modern maritime security environment has undergone a fundamental shift from blue-water fleet engagements to highly complex asymmetric confrontations in the littorals. This evolution is best exemplified by the conflict between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tigers, a non-state actor that pioneered the use of suicide…
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SADF Podcast Alert: “A Tale of Child Soldier: In Discussion with the Authors of ‘Spy Tiger 05 File’
Join us for an eye-opening episode as we delve into the harrowing yet inspiring journey of Kagusthan Ariaratnam aka Murali, a former child soldier of the LTTE. In these podcast, our host Natasha Fernando discusses with Kagusthan Ariaratnam and Michael Bramadat-Willcock, the authors of ‘Spy Tiger 05 File’ the untold stories of resilience, survival, and…
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Why “Hard Power” Fails (And What Actually Works)
“Is it possible to take the world’s most violent experiences and turn them into a blueprint for global peace? Today, we sit down with Stan to find out how he did exactly that.” From child soldier and covert operative to peace-building founder, Stan’s journey is a masterclass in resilience. Discover how he transitioned from “hard…
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The Strategic Synthesis of Soft Power and Open-Source Intelligence: A Multidimensional Analysis of Project O Five’s Counter-Extremism Framework
The global security landscape has transitioned from the conventional, hierarchical insurgencies of the twentieth century to a decentralized, digitally mediated era of asymmetric warfare and “viral” ideologies.1 In this contemporary environment, traditional state-centric counterterrorism (CT) models—which rely heavily on “hard power” mechanisms such as military intervention, kinetic strikes, and aggressive policing—often encounter the paradox of…