SriLanka, March 6 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has confirmed that Sri Lanka will remain strictly neutral in the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, while continuing to uphold its international humanitarian obligations.

Speaking at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this evening, the President announced that over 200 individuals from a distressed Iranian naval vessel are currently being brought to safety. He emphasised that the nation's territory and maritime zones will not be used to aid any party in the conflict.

The President stated:

"Our position and neutrality dictates that we shall not, under any circumstances, permit our land territory, maritime zones, or airspace to be utilized in a biased manne...