Colombo Holds 206 Iranian Naval Personnel, Vows to Follow International Law

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka will continue to provide full humanitarian support to the Iranian naval personnel and remains currently under its custody until conditions allow their safe repatriation, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced.

The minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is acting strictly as a neutral state in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, reiterating that the government “will not make decisions that advantage or disadvantage any warring faction.”

Dr. Jayatissa confirmed that 84 bodies of Iranian sailors recovered remain in Sri Lanka’s custody. “If the Iranian government makes a formal request, we are prepared to hand them over,” he said.

A total of 32 Iranian sailors who survived the attack on the IRIS Dena continue to receive treatment in hospitals or remain housed in naval quarters. Sri Lanka, he said, will provide all required care in accordance with international law and conventions.

The minister further outlined the status of the second vessel, IRIS Bushehr, now under Sri Lanka Navy custodianship. Initially carrying 206 personnel, two sailors had already been taken for treatment before the vessel was fully secured. “All 206 are now under government care,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka will follow all relevant international maritime and humanitarian protocols in handling the crew and the vessel.

According to verified international reports, the IRIS Dena was sunk off Sri Lanka’s southern coast during a U.S. submarine strike amid the escalating U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. The Sri Lankan Navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors from the frigate following its distress signal.