Sri Lanka, Sept. 2 -- Right throughout, Sri Lanka has cherished its non-aligned foreign policy under successive governments. On and off, past leaders have shown slants towards different powers, but no one has deviated from the basic line in a major way.

The value of being non-aligned with any power bloc or power is more pronounced than ever with the eruption of the Middle East crisis. First, the war has spilled over into the Indian Ocean. It is no longer insulated from conflicts beyond.

The United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury - a coordinated strike on Iran's military facilities, political leadership and nuclear sites on February 28, 2026. It triggered retaliation from Iran against Israeli and US bases and energy infr...