Sri Lanka Rejects US and Iran Military Requests to Stay Neutral

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed the country's strict neutrality in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran during a speech to Parliament in Colombo on Friday. He disclosed that his government had rejected a U.S. request to station two missile-armed warplanes at Mattala International Airport in early March, as well as an Iranian request for port calls by three warships, to avoid any involvement in military activities.

The U.S. request, submitted on February 26, sought to relocate the aircraft from a base in Djibouti to the southern civilian airport for a four-day period from March 4 to 8. The planes were equipped with eight anti-ship missiles, according to Dissanayake. "They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8, and we said no," he told the 225-member legislature, which responded with applause. Sri Lankan military officials stated that the nation would not permit its airspace or territory to be used for aggression against any country, aligning with its longstanding foreign policy.

On the same day as the U.S. request, Iran sought permission for three...