Sri Lanka is repatriating the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who died when their frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk on March 4 by a United States submarine torpedo attack, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Friday.
The repatriation will be carried out using a chartered aircraft provided by Iran, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Thushara Rodrigo, who spoke to the AFP news agency. The Iranian embassy has also confirmed the return of the bodies, Reuters reported.
Thirty-two sailors were rescued following the attack, which occurred just off the coast of Sri Lanka in international waters. Rodrigo stated that these rescued sailors will remain in Sri Lanka. They are currently being held at an air force base in the south of the island, separate from the crew of a second Iranian warship, IRIS Bushehr, which was granted safe harbor in Sri Lankan waters the day after the Dena was sunk.
Sri Lanka is currently hosting a total of 251 Iranian sailors, including the rescued crew and the 219 personnel aboard the Bushehr. Of the 32 sailors initially rescued and hospitalized, 22 have been discharged. Sri Lankan officials have indicated that the treatment of the sailors will be in accordance with Colombo’s treaty obligations, but have not yet begun discussions regarding the repatriation of the Bushehr crew.
The Bushehr is currently under the control of the Sri Lankan navy while repairs are made to one of its two reportedly malfunctioning engines. A third Iranian vessel entered safe harbor in India’s southern port of Kochi, carrying 183 crew members who are now in Indian custody.
Both Colombo and New Delhi have cited “humanitarian considerations” as the reason for providing shelter to the Iranian sailors, citing fears of further attacks by the United States. The sinking of the Dena has been criticized as a flagrant violation of international law and extended the ongoing Middle East war into the Indian Ocean.
