Sri Lanka Denies US Warplanes Access to Mattala Airport Amid Iran Conflict
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament that Sri Lanka refused a US request to land two combat aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport from March 4 to 8. The planes were to carry eight anti-ship missiles. On the same day, Sri Lanka also rejected Iran’s request to send three naval vessels for a goodwill visit. Both decisions aimed to preserve the country’s neutrality. The move came after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that heightened regional tensions. Sri Lanka’s navy later rescued 32 Iranian sailors when the vessel IRIS Dena was torpedoed.
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