Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has rejected claims that the United States has pressured Sri Lanka not to provide food or water to vessels operating near the country, amid concerns over the presence of dozens of ships in the region.
Addressing an event on Sunday (04), Herath said around 47 vessels are currently in the seas near Sri Lanka, including approximately 19 Iranian vessels, but stressed that none of them are within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
“All 47 ships are beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit of our territorial waters,” Herath said, adding that navigation in the region has become more complicated due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the Iranian vessels had not arrived in the area recently and had been operating in the region for some time.
Responding to claims that the US had instructed Sri Lanka not to provide food or water to the vessels, Herath categorically denied that any such request or pressure had been exerted.
“There has absolutely been no such instruction. The United States has in no way informed, intervened with or exerted any pressure on the Sri Lankan government to that effect,” he said.
Herath also dismissed claims that the situation had created instability in Sri Lanka, stressing that the government would make its decisions while safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty and neutrality.
He said Sri Lanka would take necessary action if humanitarian intervention was required and would continue to maintain diplomatic relations while protecting its neutral position.
The Foreign Minister added that the government has not transported or supplied goods to vessels subjected to US sanctions.
However, he said private-sector individuals providing goods and services to vessels have a responsibility to understand the prevailing circumstances and act responsibly.
Herath stressed that the Sri Lankan government continues to operate in accordance with international maritime law. (Newswire)