Sri Lanka refused ground access to US fighter jets – president

Washington asked for permission to land warplanes on the island on March 4 and 8, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has told parliament

Sri Lanka refused to provide ground access to two US fighter jets earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has told parliament.

Washington asked for permission to land the warplanes on the island on March 4 and 8, Dissanayake 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 Sri Lankan president told parliament.

“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.”

Sri Lanka also refused a request by three Iranian ships to go to the country on a goodwill visit, he said.

I met with US Special Representative for South & Central Asia, Amb. @SergioGor, today (19). We discussed strengthening US-Sri Lanka ties and I briefed him on Sri Lanka’s position on the Middle East conflict and its economic impact on our country. pic.twitter.com/p7VYHeG1qh

— Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) March 19, 2026

The statement comes a day after Dissanayake met with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor. The Sri Lankan leader posted on X that he conveyed the South Asian nation’s stance on the Middle East conflict to Gor.

Earlier this month, Sri Lanka said it allowed an Iranian warship to dock in the port of Trincomallee and rescued its 208 crew members, a day after the US sank another Iranian vessel off the island nation’s coast in an attack that killed at least 87 sailors.

The unarmed Iranian ship was returning from a naval exercise hosted by India. The US action was widely condemned for flouting international maritime norms.