An ambulance enters Sri Lanka’s southern naval head quarters in Galle on March 4, 2026, to select up Iranian sailors rescued from Iranian frigate Iris Dena that was sunk off their island earlier within the day. Sri Lanka rescued 32 “critically wounded” sailors aboard the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which sank on March 4, simply exterior the island’s territorial waters, International Minister Vijitha Herath mentioned.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
Sri Lanka rescued 32 “critically wounded” sailors aboard the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which sank Wednesday (March 4, 2026) simply exterior the island’s territorial waters, International Minister Vijitha Herath mentioned. Moreover, Sri Lanka’s Navy has recovered “just a few our bodies”, a spokesman mentioned
No data was instantly obtainable on the reason for the explosion that sank the vessel, however Ms. Herath instructed Parliament that the injured sailors have been taken to a hospital within the island’s south.
The 180-crew frigate had issued a misery name at daybreak.
Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry mentioned it was trying to find the opposite crew of the IRIS Dena, which went down about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the island.
“We’ve got discovered just a few our bodies from the world the place the ship had gone down,” native navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath instructed reporters in Colombo, including that the seek for others was persevering with.
A file picture of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. Photograph: indiannavy.gov.in.
Ms. Herath mentioned two Sri Lankan navy vessels and an plane have been deployed for the rescue operation, however didn’t say what brought about the Iranian warship to sink.
An opposition legislator requested in Parliament whether or not the vessel had been bombed as a part of the continuing U.S.-Israeli assaults in opposition to Iran, however there was no instant response from the federal government.
Mr. Sampath mentioned their operation was consistent with Sri Lanka’s maritime obligations and that 32 Iranian sailors have been evacuated to the principle hospital in Galle, 115 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Colombo.
“We responded to the misery name underneath our worldwide obligations, as that is inside our search and rescue space within the Indian Ocean,” Mr. Sampath instructed AFP.
Each Sri Lanka’s Navy and the Air Power mentioned they weren’t releasing footage of the rescue as a result of it concerned the army of one other state.
Police stepped up safety exterior the Galle hospital because the wounded Iranians have been introduced there by the native Navy.
Printed – March 04, 2026 12:39 pm IST