A Sri Lankan court has mandated the Galle National Hospital to transfer the 84 bodies of Iranian sailors, who perished when the IRIS Dena was torpedoed by the United States, to the Iranian Embassy following a request from Tehran. The order was issued by the Galle Chief Magistrate Court, and currently, these remains are preserved in two freezer containers at the Galle National Hospital.
On Tuesday, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Spokesman, Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that the government is prepared to facilitate the repatriation of the 84 Iranian sailors’ bodies if requested by Iran. According to international media outlet Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency, the Iranian army’s public relations office has announced that the bodies will soon be returned to Iran. This repatriation process is being coordinated by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the cooperation of the Sri Lankan government.
Rescue operations in Sri Lanka have successfully recovered 84 bodies, while Iran reports that 20 sailors remain unaccounted for. The sinking of the IRIS Dena occurred 19 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. In the wake of this incident, Sri Lanka has provided refuge to 32 survivors from the IRIS Dena and 208 from another vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, which sought assistance due to an engine malfunction.
Cabinet Spokesman Jayatissa emphasized that Sri Lanka will adhere to international laws and conventions in managing the situation involving the Iranian sailors, stating, “We are a neutral state. We are not a state that is involved in this war. As long as these people are in this country, the government will meet their necessary expenses. That is our decision. All these activities are being carried out as a neutral state, in accordance with the international conventions that exist in the country.”
(Colombo/March 11/2026)
