In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, President Ernest Bai Koroma says his country is losing the battle against Ebola, and is counting on Australia to help.
The development came as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced Australia would immediately boost its financial contribution to fighting the worst ever outbreak of the deadly disease by another $10 million, taking the total commitment to $18 million.
But the Australian government has so far ruled out sending medical experts and logistical support.
The refusal by Australia to provide medical experts and logistical support has prompted criticism from aid organisations, including Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Last month Mr Koroma had warned the nation's health system had already been overwhelmed by the virus which, according to the World Health Organisation, has claimed 3338 lives and infected 7178 since the beginning of the year.
"While we are doing everything possible to stop the outbreak, further support is urgently needed from your friendly government to scale up our national response with ... education efforts, as well as infection control measures," the letter says.
Mr Koroma makes a specific request for Australia to deploy military health units, logisticians and engineers.
"Having watched the response of the Australian military to similar humanitarian emergencies, most recently Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, I know that it is uniquely placed to help us in the fight against Ebola.
"Mr Koroma says in the letter that Australian military aid could potentially help save thousands of lives.
"We are counting on Australia to send us the military personnel we so desperately need to fight back against the virus and prevent the positive developments of the last 10 years from being undone."
Ms Bishop said the government has assessed that financial contributions were the best and most efficient way
Australia could make a rapid contribution to the global response to the crisis.
But Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres, while welcoming the additional aid money, criticised the Australian government's refusal to do more, as other world leaders deploy troops and medical experts in their thousands.
"Make no mistake, this crisis is at tipping point. We need to act urgently and decisively," Save the Children acting chief Mat Tinkler said.
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