Diplomatic Closure: Sri Lanka Repatriates Iranian Sailors' Bodies

Sri Lanka has returned the remains of 45 Iranian sailors to their home country after they perished in a US submarine attack on an Iranian warship. The bodies were handed over to Iran's embassy in Colombo, following official orders and amidst hospital capacity challenges.

The incident occurred when the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was hit off the southern coast near Galle. The ship was en route back to Iran following naval exercises in Visakhapatnam, India. A total of 84 bodies were recovered, and 32 survivors were treated and released from a local hospital.

The decision to repatriate the bodies was finalized by Chief Magistrate Sameera Dodangoda, with coordination by Defence Ministry Secretary Sampath Thuiyakontha. This measure brought a sense of closure to the tragic event as the deceased were flown out from Mattala airport while survivors were housed at a nearby airbase.