News Desk: Addressing Parliament today, Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed the nation’s firm policy of neutrality in the context of escalating tensions in the Middle East, and explained the Government’s decision to decline separate requests from both the United States and Iran involving military assets.

Mr. Dissanayake told Parliament that Sri Lanka’s position is guided by the need to preserve national dignity, ensure fairness, and maintain international credibility, stressing that neutrality will not be compromised under any circumstances despite external pressures.

He explained that on 26 February 2026, a request was received from Iran for three naval vessels to make goodwill visits to Sri Lanka on 9 and 13 March, aimed at strengthening cooperation. Around the same time, the United States submitted a request for permission for two military aircraft to land at Mattala International Airport, with reports indicating the aircraft were equipped with anti-ship missiles.

Mr. Dissanayake said both requests were carefully considered in light of rising global military tensions at the time. However, the Government decided not to grant approval to either request in order to safeguard Sri Lanka’s neutrality and avoid any perception of alignment with parties involved in an external conflict.

He noted that approving the Iranian naval visit could have undermined neutrality and potentially brought elements of a distant conflict closer to key national locations such as Mattala Airport and the Port of Colombo. Similarly, granting access to the US aircraft would have risked compromising the same neutral stance.

Mr. Dissanayake further clarified that Sri Lanka’s defence-related agreements with the United States do not involve participation in military conflicts. He said such agreements are limited to cooperation in areas including aviation, training, maritime awareness, cybersecurity, communications, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Reiterating his position, the President told Parliament that Sri Lanka will continue to adhere strictly to its policy of neutrality in all foreign engagements, and that decisions taken by the Government are based on careful assessment, established procedures, and the long-term national interest.

He added that maintaining neutrality is essential for safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and ensuring its continued recognition and respect within the international community.