Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (29) warned that escalating tensions around the Bab al-Mandab Strait could have direct implications for Sri Lanka, citing risks to global shipping routes and potential spillover effects on the country’s ports.

Referring to threats by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait — a narrow maritime corridor linking the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea — Premadasa noted that the passage is a critical global trade artery through which approximately 25,000 vessels transit annually. He cautioned that any disruption could prompt vessels to reroute, with possible consequences for Sri Lanka’s maritime sector.

He further warned that developments in the strait could contribute to increased militarisation of the Indian Ocean region. “We have information that some countries have already sought permission to use Sri Lankan ports for military purposes. The government should inform the nation on what it intends to do in the given situation,” he said.

Issuing a special statement on the broader implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Premadasa called on the Government to clarify its position and outline its response strategy.

He also highlighted potential economic repercussions, stating that the escalation could drive up Sri Lanka’s import costs while eroding export margins. “The increase of war risk premium could increase the cost of essential goods, causing cost-push inflation in Sri Lanka,” he added.