Eighty-four victims to be handed to Iranian embassy
Colombo: A Sri Lankan court has ordered authorities to hand over the bodies of 84 sailors killed in an attack on an Iranian warship near the island nation’s coast to the Iranian embassy, local media reported on Wednesday.
The sailors died after the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was struck by a torpedo reportedly fired from a US submarine last week. The vessel was returning from a naval exercise organized by India when the incident occurred amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
Authorities said the court issued the order following a request by the Galle Harbour Police in the southern port city of Galle. Currently, officials have placed the bodies in the morgue of Galle’s National Hospital while arrangements continue for their transfer.
Meanwhile, 32 sailors survived the attack and received assistance from Sri Lankan authorities. The incident has drawn attention due to the broader regional tensions and its potential diplomatic implications.
Washington has urged Colombo not to repatriate survivors from the two vessels
At the same time, Sri Lanka has granted 30-day entry visas to 208 crew members from another Iranian vessel that encountered engine trouble in nearby waters. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera confirmed the development in remarks to Reuters.
Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has opened communication with the Iranian embassy in Colombo regarding the crew members. According to Jayasekera, the embassy is consulting Tehran and authorities expect a response within the next few days.
Furthermore, officials said the second Iranian vessel, IRIS Booshehr, remained about nine nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s coast and would eventually be relocated. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake earlier stated that authorities plan to move the ship to Trincomalee harbour on the eastern coast.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Washington has urged Colombo not to repatriate survivors from the two vessels.
