Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. File
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters
Sri Lanka refused permission for the U.S. to land two of its warplanes within the island’s southeast Mattala Worldwide Airport in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament on Friday (March 20, 2026).
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Mr. Dissanayake mentioned that two U.S. warplanes from Djibouti requested for permission to return to Sri Lanka on March 4 and eight. Each requests have been rejected, he mentioned.
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“We wish to preserve our neutrality regardless of many pressures. We gained’t give in. The Center East conflict poses challenges however we’ll do all the things doable to stay impartial,” he mentioned.
“They needed to herald two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from base in Djibouti to the Mattala Worldwide Airport and we mentioned no,” the Sri Lankan President mentioned.
Mr. Dissanayake’s assertion comes a day after his assembly with U.S. Particular Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor.
The 2 leaders mentioned U.S. efforts to safeguard important sea lanes and safe ports, reinforce mutually helpful commerce and business ties, and advance a free, open, and affluent Indo-Pacific, an announcement mentioned.
On March 4, the U.S. torpedoed the Iranian frigate Iris Dena off Galle, the island’s southern coastal city, killing 84 sailors whereas 32 have been rescued.
The ship was returning dwelling from Visakhapatnam in India after a naval fleet overview train. Two days later, a second Iranian vessel, Iris Bushehr, sought entry to Colombo port with 219 sailors.
Sri Lanka requested the vessel to be diverted to the japanese port of Trincomalee from its anchor outdoors the port right here. A complete of 204 of the sailors are actually accommodated on the Naval facility close to Colombo.
Printed – March 20, 2026 01:00 pm IST