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Sri Lanka maintains strict neutrality and rejects US military presence amid regional tensions
Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (File photo)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 20, 2026 18:20 IST
Sri Lanka refused permission for the United States to land two of its warplanes at Mattala Airport in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament in Colombo on Friday. The requests came from US warplanes based in Djibouti 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.
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Published On:
Mar 20, 2026 18:20 IST
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