Iran-Israel War: Days after the United States sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka, Washington has reportedly asked Colombo not to send the survivors back to Iran.
According to Reuters, which cited an internal US State Department cable on Friday, American officials have also urged the Sri Lankan government not to repatriate the crew of another Iranian vessel, IRIS Booshehr, currently in Sri Lankan custody.
The IRIS Dena was sunk on Wednesday in the Indian Ocean, about 19 nautical miles off the southern Sri Lankan port city of Galle. The warship was reportedly hit by a US submarine or torpedo, killing dozens of sailors and significantly escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Following the incident, Sri Lankan authorities launched a large-scale rescue operation in the area. Officials recovered at least 87 bodies, while 32 crew members were rescued alive. The development has further intensified the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and raised concerns across South Asia.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka began disembarking 208 crew members from another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Booshehr, on Thursday. The auxiliary ship had issued a distress signal after becoming stranded in Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, though it remained outside the country’s territorial waters.
Meanwhile, Jayne Howell, the charge d'affaires at the US embassy in Colombo, reportedly told the Sri Lankan government that neither the crew of Booshehr nor the 32 survivors from IRIS Dena should be repatriated to Iran, Reuters reported.
“Sri Lankan authorities should minimize Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda,” the cable said, the report added.
Howell also reportedly told the Israeli ambassador to India and Sri Lanka that there were no plans to repatriate the crew to Iran. According to the cable, the envoy asked Howell whether there had been any engagement with the crew to encourage "defection".
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Sri Lanka Responds
Sri Lanka’s navy said it first received a distress signal from the vessel at 5:08 am on March 4. The IRIS Dena had around 180 personnel on board at the time of the attack.
The ship was among the newest vessels in Iran’s naval fleet. Classified as a Moudge-class frigate, it was designed for deep-sea operations and equipped with heavy artillery, missiles and torpedoes.
As tensions continue to rise in West Asia, Sri Lankan President Anura Disanayake reiterated the country’s non-aligned stance and called for restraint from all sides.
In a post on X, Disanayake said, 'No civilian should die in wars. Our approach is that every life is as precious as our own. We jealously guard our non-aligned policy while ensuring that humanitarian values and the saving of lives remain our top priority.' What the world urgently needs today is peace. There is a real risk of a severe global economic crisis, and entire societies are facing serious and complex challenges. We call upon all parties to demonstrate a firm commitment to peace. As a state, Sri Lanka stands ready to support every step toward ending hostilities. All our actions are aimed at saving lives and ensuring that humanity prevails."
Dissanayake made a calculated statement in a televised address, asserting that his country wants to maintain a neutral stand. A day after another Iranian frigate was sunk near Sri Lanka, Dissanayake said the vessel had sought permission to enter Sri Lankan waters, citing an engine failure.
"We wanted to remain neutral while dealing with a humanitarian response. Sri Lanka's role was limited to responding to a request from one party involved in the conflict. No one deserves to die. Every life is precious," the President said.
He also criticised opposition parties for attempting to politicise the situation. "We won't succumb to pressure. We will maintain our neutrality," Dissanayake said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka on Thursday extended humanitarian assistance to the second Iranian ship which had given a distress signal near its territorial waters.
The crew of the IRIS Bushehr disembarked for humanitarian assistance, and the ship moved to Trincomalee Harbour. The Sri Lanka Navy made arrangements to safely transport the 208 personnel on board the vessel to Colombo.
The Iranian ship had 208 personnel on board, comprising 53 officers, 84 cadets, 48 senior sailors and 23 seamen were evacuated by the Sri Lankan officials after the ship was allowed to dock.