Sri Lanka Refused Landing Clearance for US War Aircraft; President

21-Mar-2026

.

President Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka refused a request to allow two US military aircraft to land at Mattala Airport, emphasising the country’s commitment to neutrality.

He said that granting permission could have drawn Sri Lanka into the Middle East conflict.

He explained that requests had also been received from Iran for port access, and in order to maintain neutrality, both were denied.

He further noted that humanitarian assistance was provided in line with international obligations, including rescuing survivors and handling casualties from maritime incidents.

He reiterated that Sri Lanka will not yield to external pressure and will continue to uphold neutrality and international law.