Colombo: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka denied a United States request to deploy two missile-armed warplanes to a civilian airport in the island’s south earlier this month, citing the need to safeguard national neutrality.

Washington had sought to relocate the aircraft from a base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport for a four-day window starting March 4. The request, submitted Feb. 26, was rejected to ensure Sri Lankan territory was not utilised for military operations that could impact the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

"They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8, and we said 'no'," Dissanayake told the 225-member legislature, drawing widespread applause.

Escalation in the Indian Ocean

The diplomatic tension follows a major naval escalation on March 4, when a U.S. submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle. The strike killed at least 84 sailors, whose remains were recently repatriated to Tehran via Mattala.

Dissanayake revealed that on the same day the U.S. made its request, Iran also asked for a port call for three of its warships returning from naval exercises in India.

"We were still considering the Iranian request to bring the three ships to Colombo from March 9 to 13. Had we said 'yes' to Iran, we would have had to say 'yes' to the US too," the President explained. "But we didn't. We are steadfastly maintaining our position of neutrality."

Humanitarian Efforts

Despite the refusal of military stationing, Sri Lanka has engaged in significant humanitarian operations following the sinking of the IRIS Dena. The Sri Lankan navy and air force rescued 32 survivors and recovered the bodies of the deceased.

A second Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, was permitted to enter Sri Lankan waters the day after the attack due to engine malfunctions. Its crew of 219 is currently receiving shelter in Colombo.

"It was a humanitarian gesture to shelter the sailors," Dissanayake said. "We were saving lives."

A third Iranian ship, the IRIS Lavan, reached the southern Indian port of Kochi, where Indian officials confirmed some sailors have already begun their journey home.

Diplomatic Balancing Act

Dissanayake defended his government’s recent decision to abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iranian attacks, calling the document a "half-truth" that failed to present the full narrative. "We stand for justice and fairness," he stated.

Sri Lanka faces a complex geopolitical challenge, maintaining vital economic ties with both Washington, its primary export market, and Tehran, which remains the leading purchaser of Sri Lankan tea.

With inputs from AFP