Rescued sailors admitted to Karapitiya hospital on Galle
PTI
Colombo, Updated At: 01:41 PM Mar 04, 2026 IST
Sri Lanka rescued at least 30 Iranian sailors from a distressed Iranian frigate early Wednesday, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. At 5.08 this morning a message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and the coastal guard reporting the sinking ship, named Iris Dena, about 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle. “At least 30 of them were rescued while 180 of them are said to be on board,” Herath said.
The Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force carried out a joint operation, though the reason for the sinking had not yet been established. “We are bound by the international convention on maritime rescue to rescue anyone distressed irrespective of the reason,” Herath said.
The rescued sailors were brought to the Navy’s southern command headquarters and admitted to Karapitiya hospital in Galle. Security around the Southern command has been increased, officials said. Herath told parliament the current conflict in the Gulf region was deeply regrettable and Sri Lanka urges a peaceful end to it.
