Galle, Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan authorities have discharged 22 Iranian sailors who were rescued after their warship, IRIS Dena, sank in the Indian Ocean during the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
The sailors had been receiving treatment at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in the southern city of Galle after being rescued from life rafts earlier this week.
Officials said the survivors were moved to a beach resort in the same district after their release from hospital. Ten other sailors remain under medical care.
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Warship Torpedoed Near Sri Lankan Waters
The Iranian vessel was reportedly struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. The incident marked one of the first military confrontations linked to the US-Iran war to occur far beyond the Middle East.
According to Sri Lankan officials, rescue operations were launched immediately after the attack. However, more than 60 crew members are still missing, while authorities have recovered the bodies of at least 84 sailors from the sea.
Sri Lanka’s navy confirmed that search operations for additional survivors were called off on Sunday after several days of efforts in the waters off the southern coast.
Humanitarian Handling of Survivors
The Sri Lankan government said the rescued sailors were being treated in accordance with international humanitarian law. Authorities have also contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist with the situation.
Colombo has denied reports suggesting it was under pressure from Washington to prevent the Iranian sailors from returning home. Officials said the government would handle the matter based solely on international law and its own legal framework.
Second Iranian Vessel Sheltered in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is also providing temporary shelter to 219 Iranian sailors from another warship, IRIS Bushehr, which entered Sri Lankan waters after the Dena incident.
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The crew has been moved to a navy camp at Welisara near Colombo, while Sri Lanka’s navy has taken control of the vessel. Authorities plan to move the ship to the eastern port of Trincomalee, though the relocation has been delayed due to technical issues.
Regional Developments and Environmental Concerns
Meanwhile, India confirmed it allowed another Iranian vessel, IRIS Lavan, to dock at Kochi on humanitarian grounds after reporting engine trouble.
Sri Lankan officials are also investigating a small oil slick spotted near Hikkaduwa beach. Debris, including parts of a damaged life raft and equipment, has washed ashore, possibly linked to the sinking of the Dena. The incident highlights how the widening US-Iran conflict is now affecting maritime routes and countries far beyond the Middle East.
