Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry says US secondary sanctions affecting services to sanctioned vessels form part of a global policy, challenging reports of a warning aimed specifically at Colombo. Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo issued the clarification after questions about Iranian vessels near the island. His statement describes possible loss of access to the US financial system for service providers.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry rejected reports of a US sanctions warning specifically aimed at Colombo over services to nearby Iranian vessels. Ministry spokesman and Director General Thushara Rodrigo issued the clarification on October 3 after media inquiries about sanctioned ships reportedly anchored or loitering near Sri Lankan waters. He said the US measures formed part of a global secondary-sanctions policy.[1], [2]
Rodrigo said the United States announced the policy on August 24. Under his description, individuals and entities providing supplies or services to US-sanctioned vessels could lose access to the US financial system. The ministry disputed portraying that exposure as a special warning directed at Sri Lanka. The clarification concerns businesses serving designated vessels; it contains no new port permission or US exemption for the ships.[1]
The spokesman said affected vessels were also present in other oceans amid continuing conflicts and geopolitical developments. He described shipping and merchant-shipping companies as familiar with the sanctions’ application and possible implications. The ministry asked for accurate information about the policy’s broader context for Sri Lankan citizens.[1]
