SRI LANKA SEIZES IRANIAN SHIP NEAR COAST FOLLOWING US SINKING OF IRANIAN WARSHIP. (PHOTO).

Sri Lanka seizes Iranian ship near coast following US sinking of Iranian warship

     Sri Lanka began moving more than 200 sailors from an Iranian vessel to shore Friday after the ship requested assistance while anchored near the country’s waters, following the sinking of an Iranian warship by a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath said 204 crew members of the IRIS Bushehr were brought to the Welisara Naval Base near Colombo, where they underwent border control checks and medical screenings with no health issues reported.

About 15 personnel remained aboard the vessel alongside Sri Lankan naval staff to address a mechanical fault. The Iranian crew is assisting with operational manuals, logs, and ship procedures as the Bushehr remains under Sri Lankan custody, before being moved to the eastern port of Trincomalee. The vessel had been part of regional naval exercises and came under Sri Lankan control after one of its engines failed. Authorities emphasized that their response followed international law and humanitarian principles, maintaining neutrality amid escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran in the region.

The sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday marked a rare instance of a submarine taking down a surface warship, resulting in 32 rescued sailors and 87 recovered bodies. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack, calling it an “atrocity at sea.” Sri Lankan officials said their actions were guided by maritime law and international conventions, aiming to protect lives without siding with any party. Analysts noted that as a neutral state, Sri Lanka is fulfilling its humanitarian obligations while maintaining the legal and diplomatic balance in the increasingly tense Indian Ocean.

Australia confirmed that three of its personnel were aboard the U.S. submarine involved in the strike under the AUKUS security pact, though they were not directly responsible for firing the torpedo. The incident has highlighted the complex challenges for neutral nations like Sri Lanka, balancing humanitarian duties, international law, and the rising military tensions in the region.