Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that his government refused a US request to land two combat aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport earlier this month. The request, made on February 26, sought permission for the planes, carrying eight anti-ship missiles from Djibouti, to arrive between March 4 and 8, just days before the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran.
Addressing parliament on Friday, Dissanayake emphasized that the decision was made to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality, drawing applause from lawmakers. He explained that the government also received a simultaneous request from Iran for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit. “With two requests before us, the decision was clear,” he said, adding that approving one would have forced the country to approve the other.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Iranian missile and drone strikes have raised fears of a wider conflict and driven energy prices higher. While US President Donald Trump has pressed allies to support military operations, many countries, including Switzerland, have emphasized neutrality; Switzerland recently halted weapons exports to the US for use against Iran.
By rejecting both requests, Sri Lanka has signaled its commitment to avoid taking sides in the conflict, prioritizing neutrality and regional stability over involvement in the ongoing hostilities.
