Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said Saturday, following reports Washington was pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo’s international treaty obligations. Sri Lanka sent its navy to rescue survivors and recover 84 bodies. Sri Lanka also provided safe haven to a second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, and evacuated its 219 crew a day after the Dena was torpedoed. International humanitarian law applied to the survivors from the Dena, an official said, and the wounded could be repatriated at their request.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 07, 2026 12:07 UTC