Sri Lanka Takes Control of Iranian Vessel IRIS Bushehr Amid International Regulations

Colombo, March 6: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has provided a significant update regarding the Iranian naval ship IRIS Bushehr. He announced that the Sri Lankan government has taken control of the Iranian vessel and its crew under international regulations, acting as a neutral country. Authorities have initiated the process of bringing the crew ashore and relocating the ship away from the country’s main commercial port.

IRIS Bushehr is an Iranian naval ship that participated in the International Fleet Review-2026, a cooperative Maritime Exercise held in India alongside the IRIS Dena. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the IRIS Dena sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka following an attack by a U.S. submarine on Wednesday.

This collaborative maritime exercise included the IRIS Dena warship. Reports indicate that the IRIS Dena sank near Sri Lanka’s southern coast after the attack by the U.S. submarine.

During a press conference, President Dissanayake revealed that the IRIS Bushehr contacted Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on March 4, requesting permission to enter a port in Sri Lanka. He emphasized that Sri Lanka, valuing humanity, is managing this situation in accordance with international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The president described this as an unusual situation, given that the ship belongs to a country involved in the ongoing conflict. He stated that discussions have been ongoing with the ship’s captain, crew, and the Iranian embassy. It was decided to take the ship and its personnel under Sri Lankan supervision as per established procedures.

He noted that due to commercial sensitivities, the decision was made not to bring the ship to Colombo Port. Instead, the Sri Lankan Navy will send the crew to Colombo, and the ship will be relocated to the Trincomalee port area in the east of the country.

Dissanayake mentioned that the team prepared for the evacuation includes 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors, and 21 sailors. After medical checks and registration, they will be housed at the Welisara Navy Camp in Sri Lanka’s Western Province.

He further stated that following the evacuation, a joint team consisting of Sri Lankan Navy personnel and 42 crew members from the ship will transport the vessel to the Trincomalee area.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.