Sri Lanka refused permission for the US to land two of its warplanes at the island nation’s Mattala International Airport in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament in Colombo on Friday. The requests came from US warplanes based in Djibouti, a critical maritime gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, on March 4 and 8, both of which were denied.
Dissanayake emphasised Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining neutrality amid pressures arising from the Middle East conflict.
“We want to maintain our neutrality despite many pressures. We won’t give in. The Middle East war poses challenges, but we will do everything possible to remain neutral,” he said.
The Sri Lankan president, who assumed power in 2024, disclosed that the US had sought clearance for two warplanes equipped with anti-ship weaponry to land at the strategically located Mattala airport in the island’s southeast.
“They wanted to bring in two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from base in Djibouti to the Mattala International Airport and we said no,” he added, underlining Colombo’s intent to avoid being drawn into the ongoing conflict.
Dissanayake’s remarks came a day after his meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor.
According to an official statement, discussions focused on safeguarding vital sea lanes, securing ports, strengthening trade ties, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Despite these engagements, the Sri Lankan leadership signalled that it would resist external pressure that could compromise its neutral stance.
The refusal highlights Sri Lanka’s cautious balancing act as geopolitical tensions intensify across the Indian Ocean region, particularly with the spillover effects of the Middle East conflict.
Colombo’s decision not to host US military aircraft reflects concerns about becoming entangled in military operations or being perceived as aligning with one side.
IRIS DENA SINKING ROW
The development comes against the backdrop of a recent maritime incident off Sri Lanka’s southern coast in the Indian Ocean.
On March 4, a US submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Galle, resulting in the deaths of 84 sailors, while 32 others were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy. The vessel was reportedly returning from a naval exercise in India when it was struck.
In the aftermath, another Iranian ship, IRINS Bushehr, carrying 219 crew members, sought entry into Colombo port.
Sri Lankan authorities redirected the vessel to the eastern port of Trincomalee. Of the crew, 204 sailors were accommodated at a naval facility near Colombo, with the government granting them temporary entry visas.
The incident has triggered debate within Sri Lanka over international maritime conduct and the risks posed to smaller nations caught amid great power rivalries.
Lawmakers and analysts have raised concerns about violations of international norms and the potential consequences for regional stability.
Sri Lanka’s leadership has also acknowledged the economic fallout of the broader conflict, including disruptions to fuel supplies, remittances, and tourism—key pillars of the island’s economy. These pressures have reinforced Colombo’s emphasis on neutrality and non-alignment.
As tensions persist, Sri Lanka’s firm refusal to allow US warplanes to land underscores its attempt to navigate a volatile geopolitical landscape without compromising sovereignty or becoming a staging ground for military operations.
