Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute

Thirst for knowledge, learning, exploring diversified fields and thirst for the exposure in different arenas led me seek my passion towards exploring a completely new field which broadened my horizons and line of thinking. I still remember the day I came across the advert for the Diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs offered by the renowned institute of Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) and was eagerly waiting for the course to commence. After going through the names of lecturers and the core modules entailed in the Diploma I knew beforehand that this journey towards learning the integrities and core concepts of becoming a Diplomat and exploring this new aspect will be a remarkable experience. Being a student of BIDTI gave me that very reason to grow my enthusiasm and venture into the world of Diplomacy which entailed a wide scope on International Law, World Economics, International Relations, Geo-Political studies of Sri Lanka and other interesting subj...

  In a world of a miscellany of living organisms, humans are renowned for their cognitive and mental capacity to form systems of inter-personal relationships that stretch way beyond the nucleus of the immediate family. There are ample of research that go to form the opinion that today human intelligence stems not to simply solve ecological problems but rather to promote the survival of humans in large and social groups. Henceforth the importance of understanding the thoughts and emotions of others, traits such as empathy, patience, theory of mind and primacy attributed to the use of symbols, tools and language have proven to be necessary for the flexible cooperation of humans in large numbers. With the orthodox belief that diplomacy solely aims to initiate cooperation during peace and war, it is also correct to be of the stance, that to assert your opinion or idea, to know how, when and where to say it without compromise to a relationship you share and without jeopardizing your aff...

  Diplomacy is often interpreted by most only in the conventional sense – the art of statecraft. To the common man: the sensitive world of well dressed, serious men and women discussing matters regarding politics, international agreements or something of a similar nature. The first image that comes to mind are the dark suited officials who shake hands with some political figure or speak at an international forum like the United Nations. It isn’t entirely a wrong image – but there’s more to it than that. What most people don’t realize is that diplomacy is something we all employ on a daily basis. Humans, as the world’s most social creatures cannot avoid interactions with others. Regardless of whether it’s family, friends or complete strangers, we will interact. At home, school and work; or even on the road, we rely on diplomacy to bargain for a better outcome. Diplomacy is about being sensitive to the needs and expectations of another and acting with tact. It is about using one’s ...