The vessel is outside the island nation’s territorial waters, but within its exclusive economic zone, a minister has told parliament
Sri Lanka is attempting to ensure the security of the crew of an Iranian vessel near the island’s territorial waters, a minister told parliament on Thursday.
The development comes a day after a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean about 40 nautical miles away from the city of Galle, claiming 87 lives.
“The ship is not in Sri Lankan waters,” Nalinda Jayatissa told the parliament. “It is located in the exclusive economic zone. The government and the defense ministry are aware of the ship. The government is involved in providing maximum intervention pertaining to the lives of those onboard.”
On Wednesday, a US submarine sank the IRIS Dena, which was on its way back to Iran after taking part in an International Fleet Review and multilateral naval drills in southeastern India.
Another Iranian vessel reportedly “Bushehr” is currently in international waters close to Sri Lanka’s maritime border, and the government is working to provide maximum assistance to safeguard those onboard, Sri Lanka’s Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament (File Photo) pic.twitter.com/xsE1yYjuDg
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) March 5, 2026
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth erroneously said on Wednesday that it was the “first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.” At least four naval ships have been sunk by torpedoes since the Second World War. In 1982, during the Falklands War, Britain’s Royal Navy sank an Argentinian cruiser.
While the US submarine made no attempt to rescue the Iranian sailors, the Sri Lankan Navy managed to save 32 members of the Dena’s crew.
The Iranian naval personnel rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy are being treated at a hospital in the city of Galle. One person is in the critical care unit, according to local media reports.
“We are doing our best as the government in this regard,” Jayatissa added. “We are acting based on international laws, peace, and security, which is our responsibility as the government.”
The island nation, which witnessed panic buying of petrol and diesel after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, enjoys warm relations with both Iran and Israel.
Its tourism industry, a major source of revenue, has been affected by the cancellation of flights from the Middle East. The sinking of the Iranian ship is also likely to affect the sector.
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