Sri Lanka’s decision not to support a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution condemning Iranian attacks on Arab Gulf states was yesterday (19) clarified by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in parliament. He stated that Sri Lanka does not back “unbalanced” resolutions.
The Foreign Minister said that Sri Lanka had taken a firm position despite being a small country. “We are very clearly engaging in efforts for world peace. In recent days, a proposal was presented at the United Nations Security Council. That proposal was not a balanced one. As a country, even though we are small, we took a firm and clear decision that we will not support unbalanced proposals,” he said.
On March 11, 2026, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Iran for “egregious attacks” on Arab Gulf states and Jordan, demanding an immediate ceasefire. Sri Lanka, along with several other nations, did not join in sponsoring the resolution, citing it as “unbalanced” due to a lack of reference to US/Israeli actions.
Herath added that responsibility for the conflict should not be attributed to a single party. “Both sides must be held accountable. Both parties involved in initiating the war have made mistakes. Therefore, this cannot be blamed on just one side. To stop the war, a stable position must be maintained,” he said.
The Minister noted that Sri Lanka continues to maintain neutrality while expressing its position within the international community.
“At no point have we taken a position that goes against our own country. During international discussions, when questions were raised, we clearly and carefully stated that we act in accordance with international law,” he further stated.
Herath also addressed the situation involving Iranian naval personnel currently in Sri Lanka. Following the deadly attack on an Iranian vessel, the Sri Lanka Navy disembarked 208 crew members from the Iranian naval support ship IRIS Bushehr earlier this month. The crew was brought ashore to Colombo for medical checks and temporary accommodation.
“At present, the Iranian naval personnel are being held at the Welisara Naval Base. All necessary food, accommodation, and other needs are being provided at the government’s expense. The decision we take regarding them is a very serious one. Because during a time of war, the presence of a vessel belonging to one party of the conflict near our port, and those naval personnel being in our custody, is a sensitive matter,” Herath added.
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