COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Officials announced Friday that Sri Lanka has completed the repatriation of 238 Iranian naval personnel, including 32 survivors from a vessel destroyed by an American submarine attack in the Indian Ocean.
The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was destroyed by a U.S. submarine on March 4 as it was traveling back to Iran following participation in naval exercises hosted by India. Sri Lankan naval forces retrieved 87 bodies from the incident and provided medical care to 32 survivors. An additional Iranian vessel arrived at a Sri Lankan port in the south after its crew encountered mechanical difficulties.
According to Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Franklin Joseph, nearly all personnel were sent back to Iran earlier this week, with only a small number of crew members from the second vessel remaining.
The Iranian vessel continues to be stationed at Trincomalee port on the eastern coast, with authorities yet to determine its future status.
“I think it (Sri Lanka) has proven its policy posture not only in words but also in deeds,” said H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, a retired former foreign secretary who also served as Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
Palihakkara emphasized that the island nation maintained neutrality while following principles of legality, humanitarian concern, and international law. “All parties to the conflict have acknowledged that. It has enhanced Sri Lanka’s government’s credibility,” he said.
The former diplomat noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake faced a challenging situation when he rejected two simultaneous requests on the same day — declining both American requests to use Sri Lankan territory for military aircraft operations and Iranian requests to bring warships to shore.
The situation comes as Sri Lanka works to recover from a severe economic downturn, with both America and Iran serving as important trade relationships. The United States has been instrumental in supporting an International Monetary Fund rescue package and providing agricultural assistance to prevent food shortages.
