Sri Lanka has taken charge of another Iranian naval vessel near its waters, stepping in to manage a delicate maritime situation while stressing its neutral stance in the ongoing regional tensions. The ship, identified as the Iranian Navy’s IRIS Bushehr, is now set to be transported to the northeastern port of Trincomalee after Sri Lankan authorities evacuated its crew near Colombo.

The development comes only a day after a major naval incident in the same region. Sri Lanka confirmed that it evacuated roughly 208 crew members from the Iranian warship positioned off its coast. This happened shortly after a United States submarine reportedly sank an Iranian frigate in nearby waters, a move that heightened tensions across the region and brought increased attention to naval activities in the Indian Ocean.

On Thursday (5th March), Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the damaged vessel would be taken under the control of the Sri Lankan Navy. The ship will be escorted and moved to the strategically important port city of Trincomalee in the northeast of the island nation.

According to officials, the IRIS Bushehr had requested permission to dock at a Sri Lankan port earlier in the week. The request came after the vessel experienced serious mechanical issues while at sea. Due to engine damage, the warship asked to enter a Sri Lankan harbour on Wednesday, 4th March. Authorities took several hours to carefully consider the request before granting approval.

President Dissanayake explained that the Sri Lankan government communicated directly with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding the situation. These discussions were part of broader diplomatic coordination that included talks between relevant embassies, the captain of the Iranian vessel, and officers from the Sri Lankan Navy. After these discussions, both sides reached a mutual agreement that allowed Sri Lanka to carry out a rescue and assistance operation for the stranded crew.

Throughout the situation, Sri Lanka has repeatedly emphasized that it is maintaining neutrality in the wider geopolitical conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The government said its actions were guided by humanitarian considerations rather than political alignment.

President Dissanayake addressed this position clearly, stating, “We are not taking sides in this conflict, but while maintaining our neutrality we are taking action to save lives. No person should die in a war like this. Every life is equally precious.”

Authorities further explained that the decision to move the vessel to Trincomalee was taken after considering several security and economic factors. Officials feared that leaving the ship near Colombo could create risks or complications. The vessel was originally located close to Colombo, which serves as Sri Lanka’s main commercial port and a major hub for maritime trade in the region. However, the government believed that allowing the ship to remain or dock there could disrupt the country’s marine industry or expose the port to potential security concerns.

Because of these concerns, the ship itself will be transferred to Trincomalee for safekeeping, while the crew will be brought separately to Colombo. The crew of IRIS Bushehr includes a large contingent of naval personnel: 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors. These individuals will be safely transported to Colombo after being evacuated from the vessel.

Reaffirming the humanitarian reasoning behind the decision, President Dissanayake again highlighted the government’s guiding principles. He stated, “Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values. We do not believe that any civilian should die in wars. As a state, our approach is to value every human life as equal to our own. Our decisions have been taken accordingly.”

The Sri Lankan government has also stressed that its actions follow international maritime law and established global conventions. According to the president, the country has taken a balanced and lawful approach in managing the situation at sea.

Dissanayake underlined this stance by saying that Sri Lanka has “adopted a very clear position” and “do not operate in a biased manner towards any state, nor do we submit to any state.” He described the country as a neutral actor that has responded in accordance with international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Hague Convention of 1907.
Relevant information about these conventions can be found through the United Nations Treaty Collection: https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities have already begun the process of transferring the Iranian sailors from their vessel to Sri Lankan naval ships. These ships will bring them safely to Colombo before further arrangements are made.

The government confirmed the operational steps through an official communication, which stated, “Steps have already been taken to transfer them from the vessel to our ships and bring them to the Port of Colombo. Subsequently, with the necessary crew and in coordination with our naval personnel, we plan to take the vessel itself to the Port of Trincomalee.”

President Dissanayake also took the opportunity to emphasize Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and its responsibility toward national security. According to him, every decision taken in this situation has been guided by the duty to protect the country, its maritime zones, and its citizens.

He made this point firmly, stating that Sri Lanka is an independent nation whose government must act with responsibility and caution. He added that recent decisions were taken with these commitments considered “paramount.”

The president further underscored this position, saying, “We must not make decisions that place our people or our maritime zones at risk. Therefore, the decisions we take are made with our people and our motherland as the highest priority. No matter what external outcries or pressures may exist, we do not panic or act recklessly.”

Sri Lankan authorities concluded by explaining that their actions reflect the country’s commitment to peace and international cooperation. The government said that its primary aim in managing the situation is to protect human life and uphold the country’s international reputation.

In its statement, Sri Lanka clarified that the measures taken demonstrate the nation’s commitment to diplomacy and global maritime norms. Officials stressed that the government simply intends to “safeguard the reputation and dignity of our country, protects human lives and demonstrates our commitment to international conventions.”