Speaking to the media following a political bureau meeting on March 6, Rajapaksa addressed the recent incident in which an Iranian naval vessel was attacked near Sri Lanka's maritime borders. When asked about Sri Lanka's involvement in the ensuing rescue mission, the former president commended the humanitarian effort. "It is a good thing. We must always extend our support to any operation aimed at saving human lives," he stated.
However, Rajapaksa firmly cautioned against aligning with any global powers, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran. "We do not need to take a side. This is not our war, and we should not take a side," he emphasized, warning that abandoning non-alignment could place Sri Lanka in direct and unnecessary danger.
"If we allow our ports to be used by foreign militaries, we will end up getting hit from one side or the other," Rajapaksa stressed.
