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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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Strategic Reorientation: The Doctrine of Persistent Ground Raids in the Iranian Theater
The escalation of the 2026 Iranian conflict, codified as Operation Epic Fury, has reached a critical juncture where the limitations of traditional stand-off air power have necessitated a fundamental shift in US military strategy.1 While the initial phase of the campaign, which commenced on February 28, 2026, focused on the large-scale degradation of Iranian air…
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Geopolitical Alignment or Strategic Autonomy: Sri Lanka’s Defense Posture and the 2026 Indian Ocean Crisis
The decision by the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to deny the United States military access to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in March 2026 represents a critical inflection point in the maritime security of the Indian Ocean Region. While the Colombo government maintains that this refusal was a calculated act of “strict neutrality”…
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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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The Geopolitical Crucible and the Intelligence State: An Investigative Analysis of the 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings and the China-Rajapaksa Proxy Hypothesis
The coordinated suicide bombings that struck Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, targeting three churches and three luxury hotels, represent a seminal moment not only in the history of South Asian terrorism but in the shifting architecture of the global order. While the immediate aftermath saw the Sri Lankan government and international entities such as…
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The Automated Siege of Tehran: A Strategic Blueprint for IRGC Neutralization and Iranian Governance Transition
The geopolitical architecture of the Middle East in early 2026 has been fundamentally fractured by the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, a high-intensity, multi-domain campaign led by the United States and Israel to systematically dismantle the strategic threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.1 While the initial phases of the conflict achieved historic tactical…
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The Intelligence Nexus and the Shadow of the Easter Sunday Bombings: A Critical Analysis of the Arrest of Major General Suresh Sallay and the Pursuit of the Alleged Masterminds
The apprehension of Major General Suresh Sallay on February 25, 2026, represents a seismic shift in the long-deferred quest for accountability regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. As the former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Sallay is the highest-ranking military intelligence official to be taken into custody in connection with the coordinated suicide…
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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…