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Sri Lanka’s refusal to host US warplanes before Iran war risks trade backlash

Colombo said no, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently revealed – a decision analysts said reflected the Indian Ocean island nation’s desire to avoid being drawn into a foreign conflict from which it had “nothing to gain”.

The request, made on February 26, reportedly sought to relocate two aircraft from a US base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8.

“They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles,” Dissanayake said. “We said ‘no’.”

A Sri Lankan naval vessel approaches the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr on March 5, a day after the Iranian military ship IRIS Dena was torpedoed off the island’s coast. Photo: Sri Lanka Navy/Reuters

Colombo also turned away three Iranian naval vessels that requested a port call from March 9 to 13, upon returning from exercises in India.

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