World Watch
Sri Lanka Says No To US , Denies Permission To land Two of its Warplanes In island’s Southeast Mattala International Airport
Dissanayake said that two US warplanes from Djibouti asked for permission to come to Sri Lanka on March 4 and 8. Both requests were rejected, he said.
Picture C redit : @anuradisanayake/X
Sri Lanka refused permission for the US to land two of its warplanes in the island’s southeast Mattala International Airport in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament
Dissanayake said that two US warplanes from Djibouti asked for permission to come to Sri Lanka on March 4 and 8. Both requests were rejected, he said.
“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.
No civilian should die in wars. Our approach is that every life is as precious as our own. We jealously guard our non-aligned policy while ensuring that humanitarian values and the saving of lives remain our top priority.
What the world urgently needs today is peace. There is a… pic.twitter.com/ELVOP9dER0
— Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) March 6, 2026
“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,” the Sri Lankan president said.
Dissanayake’s statement comes a day after his meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor.
The two leaders discussed US efforts to safeguard vital sea lanes and secure ports, reinforce mutually beneficial trade and commercial ties, and advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, a statement said.