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Sri Lanka Refutes Access of US Fighter Jets Amid Mideast Tensions
(MENAFN) Sri Lanka recently declined requests from the United States to grant ground access to two fighter jets, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament. Washington sought permission for the warplanes to land on March 4 and 8, he said on Friday.
“They wanted to bring in two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to the Mattala International Airport and we said no,” the president explained.
“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.”
Dissanayake also revealed that Sri Lanka rejected a request from three Iranian ships seeking a goodwill visit. The announcement followed his meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, during which the president reaffirmed the country’s neutral position regarding the Middle East conflict, as he posted on X.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka allowed an Iranian warship to dock at the port of Trincomalee and rescued its 208 crew members. This occurred a day after a US attack sank another Iranian vessel near the island, killing at least 87 sailors. The unarmed ship had been returning from a naval exercise hosted by India, and the strike drew widespread condemnation for violating international maritime norms.
“They wanted to bring in two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to the Mattala International Airport and we said no,” the president explained.
“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.”
Dissanayake also revealed that Sri Lanka rejected a request from three Iranian ships seeking a goodwill visit. The announcement followed his meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, during which the president reaffirmed the country’s neutral position regarding the Middle East conflict, as he posted on X.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka allowed an Iranian warship to dock at the port of Trincomalee and rescued its 208 crew members. This occurred a day after a US attack sank another Iranian vessel near the island, killing at least 87 sailors. The unarmed ship had been returning from a naval exercise hosted by India, and the strike drew widespread condemnation for violating international maritime norms.
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