Colombo

Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that Sri Lanka declined a request from the United States to allow two of its warplanes to land at Mattala International Airport earlier this month.

Addressing Parliament, Dissanayake stated that the aircraft, which were stationed in Djibouti, sought landing clearance on March 4 and March 8, but both requests were turned down. He emphasised that the decision was guided by Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining neutrality amid rising geopolitical tensions.

He noted that the aircraft were reportedly equipped with anti-ship missiles, and reiterated that the country would not yield to external pressure, despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The remarks came a day after Dissanayake met US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor. According to an official statement, their discussions focused on safeguarding key maritime routes, strengthening port security, boosting trade ties, and promoting a stable and open Indo-Pacific region.

The developments follow heightened regional tensions. On March 4, a US strike targeted the Iranian frigate Iris Dena near Galle, resulting in significant casualties. The vessel had been returning from a naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, India.

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Shortly after, another Iranian ship, Iris Bushehr, carrying over 200 sailors, sought entry at Colombo port. Sri Lankan authorities redirected it to Trincomalee, and most of the crew have since been accommodated at a naval facility near Colombo.