Iranian sailors rescued to be treated according to intl law: Sri Lanka has committed to treating Iranian sailors rescued from the torpedoed frigate IRIS Dena in accordance with international law, as stated by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on March 7, 2026. This comes amidst reports of pressure from Washington urging Colombo not to repatriate the sailors.
The IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate, was sunk by a U.S. submarine off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on March 4, 2026. Sri Lanka’s naval forces promptly responded, rescuing 32 sailors and recovering the bodies of 84 others. The survivors are being cared for under Colombo’s international treaty obligations, according to the Foreign Minister.
In addition to the IRIS Dena, Sri Lanka provided refuge to another Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, which docked at Trincomalee after reporting engine troubles. Meanwhile, a third vessel, the IRIS Lavan, was permitted by India to dock at Kochi on humanitarian grounds, highlighting the regional diplomatic dynamics.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the country would adhere to the Hague Convention, which mandates that a neutral state must hold combatants from a warring nation until the conflict concludes. Talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross are underway to manage the situation involving the survivors.
Iranian diplomats in Colombo have requested the repatriation of the remains of the 84 sailors who perished in the attack. The situation remains delicate, with international humanitarian law guiding the potential repatriation of the wounded upon their request.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 8, 2026
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