The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) is a South Asian regional think tank, based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Established in 1992, it is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization which encourages research, dialogue, and deliberation on a broad range of conventional and non-conventional sources of conflict. The RCSS enables scholars and other professionals to address, individually and collectively, problems and issues of topical interest for all South Asian countries. It strives to be a leading regional institute that initiates, coordinates and supports research and learning on South Asian strategic and security issues.

RCSS since its inception, has worked tirelessly to promote networking, dialogue and co-learning in South Asia; a region which is often divided by conflicts and stymied by its own diversity. To achieve its overarching goal of working "together for a better South Asia", RCSS has initiated numerous conferences, projects, discussion forums, seminars, dialogues and meetings in hopes of proliferating knowledge, understanding and cooperation on topics of mutual concern, in South Asia. These activities bring together distinguished scholars, academics, practitioners and various groups in civil society, together to share their knowledge and experience. Moreover, these activities, create and provide a platform among various interest groups, to identify and suggest sustainable policies and solutions, in relation to a wide range of issues which plague South Asia. Over the years, RCSS has partnered with numerous international, regional and local institutions, organizations and universities to achieve the above.

RCSS contributes towards knowledge-generation and knowledge-sharing, inside and outside the region, through its research and publications. The output of our projects, seminars, workshops and conferences are frequently collated and disseminated in the form of proceedings, monographs and edited volumes. Additionally, RCSS encourages research and discourse in traditional and non-traditional areas of security, through two flagship research awards; the Shelton Kodikara Research Award and the Mahbub ul Haq Research Award. These provide researchers and scholars with the individual freedom to pursue academic research without interference, while in keeping with scholarly standards, and largely contribute towards RCSS' policy papers. Lastly, RCSS publishes a termly newsletter, wherein updates of RCSS’ and our partners’ initiatives and events are highlighted and promoted.

Aside from RCSS’s commitment to academic activities and confidence building programmes, as well as publications, both of which have been consistent parts of our outreach strategy, RCCS over the past few years, has simultaneously harnessed the advantages of social media. A valuable tool to keep scholars, academics, and practitioners abreast about the various activities RCSS is involved in, it has also provided an opportunity for a regional organisation, based in Colombo, to interact with individuals on a global scale, and allow participants and speakers at our conferences, as well as researchers and students alike to engage with RCSS in real-time. In the recent past, RCSS has also begun using Skype/GoTo meeting to execute its academic, research and advocacy initiatives, recognising that this innovative way of interaction, enables students, as well as researchers and professionals, to learn from, be exposed to, and meet key voices and figures in the field of International Relations and other relevant disciplinary areas, who would otherwise be inaccessible. Above all, RCSS has made a conscious effort to enlarge its connectivity, by posting regularly on Facebook and Twitter about its events, programmes and publications, and ensuring that all aspects of its academic, advocacy and research initiatives are proactively documented and disseminated.

Regional Centre for Strategic Studies - RCSS

The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) is a premier think tank based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, working on regional security and strategic issues that concern South Asia. Established in 1992, it is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization which encourages research, dialogue, and interaction on a broad range of traditional and non-traditional security studies. As a pioneering regional think tank, RCSS initiates, coordinates and supports research and learning on South Asian strategic and security issues. RCSS is governed by a Board of Directors (BoD) and its research directions are set by an International Research Committee (IRC). The members of the BoD and IRC are recognized scholars, diplomats, civil servants and members of the strategic community from South Asia and around the world. The Executive Director (ED) is the chief executive officer of RCSS and is appointed on a rotational basis from South Asian member countries.