Sri Lanka denies U.S. warplanes landing, cites neutrality
Colombo— Sri Lanka declined a request by the United States to allow two combat aircraft to land earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday, citing the country’s policy of neutrality amid escalating regional tensions.
Dissanayake said Washington had sought permission for the aircraft to land at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport between March 4 and March 8.
The planes were reportedly carrying anti-ship missiles and were to arrive from a U.S. base in Djibouti.“We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality,” Dissanayake said, adding that the decision was met with approval from lawmakers.
The president said Sri Lanka also rejected a separate request from Iran for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit between March 9 and March 13 after participating in an Indian naval exercise.
“We were considering this request. Had we said ‘yes’ to Iran, we would have had to say ‘yes’ to the U.S. as well,” he said, indicating Colombo’s effort to avoid alignment with either side.
The decisions come amid heightened tensions following military action by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, which has disrupted energy flows and unsettled global markets.
Sri Lanka’s navy was also involved in rescue operations linked to the conflict. Authorities said 32 Iranian crew members were rescued from the vessel IRIS Dena after it was torpedoed on March 4, in an incident that reportedly caused significant casualties.
A second vessel, IRIS Booshehr, and its crew were assisted after encountering technical difficulties near Sri Lankan waters.
The developments coincide with a visit by Sergio Gor, who met Dissanayake on Thursday as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Sri Lanka, still recovering from a financial crisis that peaked in 2022, is facing renewed economic pressure due to energy supply disruptions linked to the regional conflict, underscoring the challenges of maintaining a neutral stance.
