The Sunday Times leader writer (Sri Lanka) comments on March 22, 2026: “And imagine the consequences had this country (Sri Lanka) agreed to entertain foreign military bases.”
Here is another extract from the Sri Lanka Sunday Times of March22, 2026:
“It cannot be a coincidence that Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, was visiting Sri Lanka from February 19 to 21, just days before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. For Admiral Koehlar, who heads the largest naval fleet command in the world, it was the second visit since the NPP took power, the first being in December 2024, barely three months after President Dissanayake was elected.
This week, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, was in Sri Lanka for high-level engagements focused on advancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. He first called on President Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday. This was their second meeting. Ambassador Sergio Gor, who is also the US envoy to India, called on the President when the President was in New Delhi in February attending the AI Impact Summit there.
It was during the special envoy’s stay in Colombo that the President chose to drop a diplomatic bombshell in Parliament by announcing that his government had turned down a request from the United States to land two military aircraft at the Mattala International Airport while at the same time refusing a request from Iran for three of their navy ships to visit Sri Lanka on March 9 and 13. Subsequently, a US submarine torpedoed and sank one of the three Iranian vessels, IRIS Dena, in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, killing around 100 Iranian sailors. Thirty-two sailors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force.
“Two aircraft from the United States requested permission to remain at Mattala International Airport on the 4th and 8th. It was also stated that eight anti-ship missiles were mounted on these aircraft. Some have argued that Sri Lanka has entered into a defence agreement with the United States and therefore cannot avoid becoming a party to the conflict. This is incorrect. There is no provision within that agreement that relates to our position in such a war or obliges us to take part in it,” the President told Parliament.
When the President addressed a select group of journalists on March 5, he announced details relating to the Iranian ships—details that were relayed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 26 for the three ships to visit Sri Lanka. The President said that the US made the request for their aircraft to land at Mattala the same evening. It is unclear as to why the request made by one country was made public earlier and the other two weeks later. So far there has been no comment from the US side on their request made to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Colombo, in a press release announcing Special Envoy Gor’s visit, said he would meet with senior leaders to reaffirm the importance of the US-Sri Lanka relationship and strengthen cooperation in key sectors. “Special Envoy Gor’s meetings will further support US efforts to safeguard vital sea lanes and secure ports, reinforce mutually beneficial trade and commercial ties, and advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific for the benefit of both our peoples,” the press release said.
That the US is taking special interest not only in the Sri Lankan military but also in its civilian facilities was highlighted when Mr Gor decided to undertake a visit to the Colombo Port to watch its operations. He was accompanied by Sri Lanka Port Authority Chairman Parakrama Dissanayke. After his firsthand experience of watching how the Colombo Port operates, Mr Gor took to his X account and said, “It’s clear how this critical hub connects South Asia to global markets—and why maritime security here matters. That’s why the US–Sri Lanka partnership is helping advance secure and transparent trade, support ongoing efforts to improve port efficiency, and protect the integrity of supply chains that have a direct impact on the bottom line for US manufacturers and consumers.”
He also joined Sri Lanka Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Damian Fernando aboard SLNS Gajabahu, a former USCG cutter now in the service of the Sri Lanka Navy. The vessel, he said, symbolises the strength of the longstanding maritime partnership between the two countries.
The catchwords for the US in relations with Sri Lanka have been maritime security and regional stability, but as events of the past few weeks have shown, US actions have caused more instability in the region and drawn Sri Lanka into a situation that it would rather not be in.
On Friday, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is less than 2000 kilometres to the south of Sri Lanka. This expansion of the sphere of war should be worrying for the Sri Lankan government as well as other countries in the region. This would certainly add to government woes as its struggles with being neutral to a conflict that is splitting the world into many camps.”
I don't see the Empire crumbling anytime soon, but I think we are starting to see the beginning of the end. History's wheel is turning.
I refuse to believe we are doomed, we have to fight that feeling of despair. Although like Howard Jacobson in his book I am howling.
Gillian, I can’t help echoing Private Fraser.
We’re doomed, Walter. Thank God we’re old.
An edifying read.
Thank you Uditha. I am finding that many of my articles from ten years ago and more still make sense.
Here is another extract from the Sri Lanka Sunday Times of March22, 2026:
“It cannot be a coincidence that Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, was visiting Sri Lanka from February 19 to 21, just days before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. For Admiral Koehlar, who heads the largest naval fleet command in the world, it was the second visit since the NPP took power, the first being in December 2024, barely three months after President Dissanayake was elected.
This week, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, was in Sri Lanka for high-level engagements focused on advancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. He first called on President Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday. This was their second meeting. Ambassador Sergio Gor, who is also the US envoy to India, called on the President when the President was in New Delhi in February attending the AI Impact Summit there.
It was during the special envoy’s stay in Colombo that the President chose to drop a diplomatic bombshell in Parliament by announcing that his government had turned down a request from the United States to land two military aircraft at the Mattala International Airport while at the same time refusing a request from Iran for three of their navy ships to visit Sri Lanka on March 9 and 13. Subsequently, a US submarine torpedoed and sank one of the three Iranian vessels, IRIS Dena, in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, killing around 100 Iranian sailors. Thirty-two sailors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force.
“Two aircraft from the United States requested permission to remain at Mattala International Airport on the 4th and 8th. It was also stated that eight anti-ship missiles were mounted on these aircraft. Some have argued that Sri Lanka has entered into a defence agreement with the United States and therefore cannot avoid becoming a party to the conflict. This is incorrect. There is no provision within that agreement that relates to our position in such a war or obliges us to take part in it,” the President told Parliament.
When the President addressed a select group of journalists on March 5, he announced details relating to the Iranian ships—details that were relayed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 26 for the three ships to visit Sri Lanka. The President said that the US made the request for their aircraft to land at Mattala the same evening. It is unclear as to why the request made by one country was made public earlier and the other two weeks later. So far there has been no comment from the US side on their request made to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Colombo, in a press release announcing Special Envoy Gor’s visit, said he would meet with senior leaders to reaffirm the importance of the US-Sri Lanka relationship and strengthen cooperation in key sectors. “Special Envoy Gor’s meetings will further support US efforts to safeguard vital sea lanes and secure ports, reinforce mutually beneficial trade and commercial ties, and advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific for the benefit of both our peoples,” the press release said.
That the US is taking special interest not only in the Sri Lankan military but also in its civilian facilities was highlighted when Mr Gor decided to undertake a visit to the Colombo Port to watch its operations. He was accompanied by Sri Lanka Port Authority Chairman Parakrama Dissanayke. After his firsthand experience of watching how the Colombo Port operates, Mr Gor took to his X account and said, “It’s clear how this critical hub connects South Asia to global markets—and why maritime security here matters. That’s why the US–Sri Lanka partnership is helping advance secure and transparent trade, support ongoing efforts to improve port efficiency, and protect the integrity of supply chains that have a direct impact on the bottom line for US manufacturers and consumers.”
He also joined Sri Lanka Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Damian Fernando aboard SLNS Gajabahu, a former USCG cutter now in the service of the Sri Lanka Navy. The vessel, he said, symbolises the strength of the longstanding maritime partnership between the two countries.
The catchwords for the US in relations with Sri Lanka have been maritime security and regional stability, but as events of the past few weeks have shown, US actions have caused more instability in the region and drawn Sri Lanka into a situation that it would rather not be in.
On Friday, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is less than 2000 kilometres to the south of Sri Lanka. This expansion of the sphere of war should be worrying for the Sri Lankan government as well as other countries in the region. This would certainly add to government woes as its struggles with being neutral to a conflict that is splitting the world into many camps.”
Our special relationship (the UK) should always have been with Europe never the US.