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Sri Lanka Takes Custody of Iranian Naval Ship Amid Regional Tensions

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the government has taken over operations concerning the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr under international conventions. The ship sought permission to enter a Sri Lankan port following the sinking of its companion vessel, IRIS Dena, after a reported US submarine attack. The crew will be evacuated to Colombo and housed at a navy camp, while the ship itself will be moved to Trincomalee Port away from the main commercial harbor. The president emphasized Sri Lanka's neutral and humanitarian handling of the situation involving a party to an ongoing conflict.

Key Points: Sri Lanka Handles Iranian Ship Under International Law

  • Sri Lanka assumes care of Iranian vessel
  • Crew to be brought ashore for processing
  • Ship to be relocated to Trincomalee Port
  • Action taken as a neutral state under international law
2 min read

Sri Lanka to handle Iranian vessel under international law: President Dissanayake

President Dissanayake says Sri Lanka, as a neutral state, will care for the IRIS Bushehr crew and relocate the vessel under international conventions.

"Sri Lanka, which places great emphasis on humanity, handled the situation in line with international obligations - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake"

Colombo, March 6

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government has taken over operations concerning the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr and its crew under international conventions as a neutral state, as authorities move to bring the crew ashore and relocate the ship away from the country's main commercial harbor.

IRIS Bushehr is an Iranian naval vessel which had taken part in a 2026 International Fleet Review, a cooperative maritime exercise held in India along with IRIS Dena, which sank off the island's southern coast after a US submarine attack on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dissanayake told a news conference that IRIS Bushehr reported to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 4, and sought permission to enter a Sri Lankan port.

He said Sri Lanka, which places great emphasis on humanity, handled the situation in line with international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Calling it a non-routine situation because the ship belongs to a party to an ongoing conflict, the president said officials held continuous discussions with the ship's captain, the crew and the Iranian Embassy, and decided to place the vessel and personnel on board under Sri Lanka's care following agreed procedures.

He said the government decided not to bring the vessel into the Port of Colombo due to commercial sensitivities. Instead, Sri Lanka will transfer the crew to Colombo by naval vessels and then move the ship to the Trincomalee Port area in the country's east.

Dissanayake said personnel prepared to be brought ashore include 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors and 21 sailors. They are to be placed at Welisara Navy Camp in Sri Lanka's Western Province after medical examinations and registration.

After the evacuation, a joint essential team comprising Sri Lankan naval personnel and 42 members of the ship's crew will sail the vessel to the Trincomalee area, he added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The humanitarian aspect is commendable. Providing medical care and shelter to over 200 crew members is the right thing to do, regardless of the politics. The world needs more of this compassion.
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Rohit P
Interesting that this ship was just in India for an exercise in 2026. The geopolitical chessboard in the Indian Ocean is getting more complex by the day. Sri Lanka is walking a tightrope between major powers. Hope this doesn't create tensions in our backyard. 🤔
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Priya S
Smart move to move it away from Colombo's commercial port. Can't let a sensitive military situation disrupt vital trade and shipping lanes. Trincomalee is a more suitable location. Practical thinking.
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Aman W
While I appreciate the neutral stance, I hope Sri Lanka is also considering the security implications very carefully. A foreign naval vessel, even under distress, in your waters is a serious matter. The joint crew sailing it is a good compromise for control.
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Nikhil C
The mention of the other ship, IRIS Dena, sinking after a US attack is the real story here. The conflict is spilling over. Sri Lanka's action sets a precedent for how regional nations might have to deal with the fallout. Stay safe, neighbors.

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