Colombo, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka has given refuge to more than 250 Iranian sailors while condemning the rising death toll from fighting in the Middle East.
The sailors were evacuated from the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr after the ship reported engine problems and requested permission to enter Sri Lankan waters. Authorities allowed the ship to dock near the capital, Colombo, and moved its 219 crew members to a nearby naval facility for safety.
The incident occurred just one day after another Iranian ship, IRIS Dena, was hit by a torpedo fired by the United States navy off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The strike killed at least 84 Iranian sailors, while 64 others remain missing. Sri Lankan rescuers managed to save 32 injured survivors, who are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Sri Lanka Calls for Peace
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake condemned the loss of life and emphasized the country’s humanitarian response.
He said Sri Lanka’s priority was saving lives regardless of nationality, adding that the country remains committed to its neutral and non-aligned foreign policy.
According to the president, offering shelter to the sailors was “the most courageous and humanitarian course of action” the government could take during the crisis.
Rising Tensions Beyond the Middle East
The attack is significant because it happened far outside the Middle East, marking the first such military strike since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.
U.S. officials also said the torpedo used in the attack was fired from an American submarine, reportedly the first such torpedo strike by the U.S. Navy since World War II.
Iran Reacts
Iran’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alireza Delkhosh, thanked the Sri Lankan government for helping the stranded sailors.
Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh criticized the United States, claiming the targeted ship was a “ceremonial and unloaded” vessel.
What Happens Next
The damaged Iranian ship remains anchored near Colombo while engineers attempt to repair its engine. Some Iranian sailors are still on board assisting Sri Lankan naval personnel, but they will be evacuated once the vessel is ready to move.
Sri Lankan authorities say their actions are guided by humanitarian principles, stressing that protecting lives remains their top priority as tensions in the region continue to rise.
