Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa affirmed today (May 8) that Sri Lanka will not permit any faction to use the country’s territory or airspace to launch attacks on another nation.
Responding to questions regarding Sri Lanka’s position amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Minister Jayatissa emphasized that the government remains firmly committed to a non-aligned foreign policy and upholds regional peace.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing, the Minister stated that Sri Lanka unequivocally rejects all forms of terrorism and supports peace and stability in South Asia. “We are closely monitoring the situation through updates provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
Reiterating Sri Lanka’s neutral stance in regional conflicts, Dr. Jayatissa stressed that the country will not be drawn into geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean. However, he noted that Sri Lanka will continue to support anti-terrorism efforts, especially those that contribute to the safety and security of the broader region.
“Sri Lanka maintains cordial diplomatic relations with both India and Pakistan,” the Minister added.
His comments come in the wake of a dramatic escalation of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. On Tuesday (May 6), India claimed to have carried out missile and air strikes on nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, asserting that the operations were based on “credible intelligence” related to militant activities.
Pakistan, in response, said only six locations were hit and claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets and a drone—a claim not confirmed by Indian authorities. Islamabad reported 26 deaths and 46 injuries from the airstrikes and shelling, while India reported 10 civilian fatalities on its side of the Line of Control (LoC) due to Pakistani shelling.
This latest escalation follows last month’s deadly militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan-based terrorist groups of orchestrating the attack, a charge Islamabad strongly denies, stating that no evidence has been provided to support the allegation.
