the 21st century, Sri Lanka has emerged as a developing country, with a strategically important geographical location in the Indian Ocean, with its deep harbors giving it significant geopolitical leverage as a major trading post from the ancient Maritime Silk Road.[20][21][22] It has the highest level of human development in South Asia and the second-highest GDP per capita in the region. Sri Lanka has a long history of International engagement and cooperation, and is a member of several international organisations—including SAARC, the G77, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations.