Sri Lanka Is Ready to Take Center Stage
After a surprising election, the island democracy deserves U.S. attention.
LEADING ROLE: Maithripala Sirisena, center, has promised to restore his country’s democratic institutions and expressed interest in counterbalancing a rising China. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 28, 2015 12:29 p.m. ET
Editor’s note: The following op-ed was contributed by Richard Armitage, Kara Bue and Lisa Curtis. Mr. Armitage was deputy secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. Ms. Bue was deputy assistant secretary of State for political military affairs from 2003 to 2005. Ms. Curtis is Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.
Sri Lanka has rarely, if ever, topped any U.S. foreign-policy agenda. But after the surprising outcome of its presidential election earlier this month, it should get higher billing.
