More than 200 Iranian sailors who had been stranded in Sri Lanka following a naval incident have now returned home after spending over a month in the country.
According to Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara, a total of 238 sailors were repatriated. This included 32 crew members rescued from the Iris Dena and 206 from the Irins Bushehr. The group departed on Tuesday night after being flown out of Sri Lanka.
The incident began on 4 March, when the Iris Dena sank approximately 40 kilometres off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after being struck by a torpedo reportedly launched from a US submarine. The attack resulted in the deaths of 104 sailors.
The following day, Sri Lankan authorities took control of the Irins Bushehr after it requested permission to dock due to engine failure. The vessel was allowed into port on humanitarian grounds after several hours of deliberation.
During their stay, the stranded sailors were granted 30-day visas and accommodated in military facilities, including navy and air force camps.
Footage released by the United States Department of Defense showed a vessel being hit and exploding after the strike. Meanwhile, the bodies of 84 victims recovered from the sinking were later returned to Iran on a chartered flight.
The sinking of the Iris Dena occurred in international waters just days after the escalation of the US-Israeli war with Iran, marking a significant expansion of the conflict. In response, Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes across parts of the Middle East, targeting countries allied with the United States.
Despite the evacuation, around 15 Iranian sailors are expected to remain in Sri Lanka to operate the Irins Bushehr, which is currently anchored off the northeastern port of Trincomalee.
Sri Lanka’s decision to assist the sailors reflects its longstanding policy of neutrality. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the country acted to uphold humanitarian values while maintaining its non-aligned stance.
Since gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has maintained diplomatic and economic relations with both Iran and the United States, balancing its foreign policy between the two nations.
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