Sri Lanka Denies US Request to Land Fighter Jets at Its Airports

March 19, Kathmandu – Sri Lanka has rejected a US request to allow fighter jets to land at its airports. On Friday, President Anura Dissanayake informed parliament that his country strictly adheres to a policy of neutrality and declined the US demand accordingly.

According to the Sri Lankan media outlet Daily Mirror, Iran had requested to send three ships on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka, while the US sought permission to land two of its fighter jets at Mattala airport. President Dissanayake informed parliament that both requests were denied.

“Sri Lanka has maintained neutrality by rejecting requests from both the US and Iran,” stated Dissanayake. He clarified that Sri Lanka would not permit the use of its territory for any military activities that could favor any party.