Sri Lanka declined permission for two US combat aircraft to land at a civilian airport earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday. The US had requested permission for the two aircraft to land at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the southern part of the country from March 4-8, Dissanayake told lawmakers. The same day Iran requested three of its ships to make a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka from March 9-13 after participating in an Indian naval exercise. US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor is currently visiting Sri Lanka and met Dissanayake on Thursday. The US is Sri Lanka's largest export market while Iran is one of its key tea buyers.

Source: The Telegraph March 20, 2026 13:56 UTC