BY Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
Reports reveal an attempt to promote a separatist agenda through a university located in Hong Kong, China, in a manner that threatens the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. This came to light through a job advertisement published by the Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to recruit a Postdoctoral Fellow.
According to the job notice (Job Description – Postdoctoral Fellow 260001DQ), a research project is set to be conducted under the direction of Professor Alex Green and in collaboration with the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). The primary objective of this research is stated as studying the ongoing political and legal discourses surrounding the establishment of an independent Tamil state within the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Critics allege that geopolitical motivations lie behind a Chinese academic institution partnering with banned or diaspora organizations advocating for a separate state. A serious debate has emerged over whether China is acting in this manner to appease Tamils in order to fulfill its own geopolitical objectives, or if this is blackmail aimed at forcing Sri Lanka to yield to its demands.
Inquiry Made in Respect of the Right of Reply:
In adherence to journalistic ethics and out of respect for the Right of Reply, an email inquiry (titled “Press Inquiry & Right of Reply Academic Research Project on Statehood and Sri Lanka”) was sent to Professor Alex Green (aggreen@cuhk.edu.hk) on September 03, 2026, seeking clarification on the academic independence of this research project, the nature of the collaboration with the TGTE, and its implications for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
However, as of today (October 01, 2026), no response has been received from Professor Alex Green or the university administration regarding this inquiry. Nevertheless, does avoiding a response in this manner serve a specific underlying motive, and does it not raise serious questions as to whether these actions are being conducted with the knowledge of the Chinese government?
