Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed that his country is maintaining a neutral stance in the ongoing Israeli-US conflict with Iran, rejecting allegations of favouring any side.
Addressing parliament following a meeting with Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India, the president responded to criticism surrounding recent government decisions.
Dissanayake said some groups had claimed that Sri Lanka delayed allowing an Iranian vessel due to alleged defence agreements with the United States.
“Certain parties are saying that we have signed defence agreements with the US, and that’s why we delayed to entertain the Iranian vessel,” he said.
“They are saying we are partial,” he added, stressing, “We are impartial.”
The president also revealed that both Iran and the United States had recently requested permission for their militaries to make port calls in Sri Lanka.
“As a neutral nation, we declined both requests. That is impartiality,” he said.
#From Al Jazeera