Colombo: Sri Lanka has moved more than 200 crew members rescued from an Iranian naval vessel to a navy camp near Colombo after their ship developed mechanical problems in waters close to the island.
According to officials and sources, the Sri Lankan Navy brought 208 Iranian sailors ashore and later transported them to a naval facility in Welisara for temporary accommodation and security. The crew had earlier arrived at Colombo port after being rescued at sea.
The sailors were on board the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr when it experienced engine trouble inside Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities launched a rescue operation and safely brought the crew to shore.
Officials said the rescued group included officers, cadets and sailors from the Iranian navy. Medical checks and basic assistance were provided after their arrival in Colombo.
Some members of the crew remained on the vessel along with Sri Lankan naval personnel to help guide the ship. Authorities are planning to move the vessel safely to the eastern port of Trincomalee.
The incident comes at a time of rising military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel in the wider region. Just a day earlier, an Iranian warship named IRIS Dena was reportedly sunk by a United States submarine in waters off Sri Lanka during the ongoing conflict.
Sri Lanka has stressed that its actions are purely humanitarian and that the country remains neutral in the conflict. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government said assisting the crew was necessary to ensure safety at sea and prevent a larger emergency.
Diplomatic discussions are expected to continue regarding the future of the vessel and the return of the Iranian crew members once the situation is resolved.