The US Special Representative for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday discussed strengthening of bilateral relations and the island nation's position on the West Asia crisis. The US Special envoys’ visit to Sri Lanka comes at a time when Sri Lanka came to be embroiled in the joint US-Israeli war against Iran since February 28. The US Special envoy will also travel to Maldives after Sri Lanka in the 5-day visit for high-level engagements focused on advancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Two days later, a second Iranian vessel, Iris Bushehr, sought entry to Colombo port with 219 sailors. Sri Lanka asked the vessel to be diverted to the eastern port of Trincomalee from its anchor outside the port here.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2026 10:36 UTC