84 bodies recovered from sunken Iranian warship (Update)

2026-03-05 - 04:47

The Sri Lanka Navy says that 84 bodies have been recovered from the Iranian naval vessel ‘IRIS Dena’, which sank off the Southern coast of Sri Lanka following an alleged attack by a U.S. military submarine. Accordingly, the Navy stated that search operations are continuing to locate those who remain missing. The vessel had been sailing back to Iran after participating in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026 held in Visakhapatnam, with a crew of around 180 personnel on board at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has reportedly confirmed that the vessel was attacked using a torpedo fired from an American submarine. Reports further indicate that the United States has released a video showing the moment the attack was carried out. ( Previous news 2026 March 05 – 8:42.a.m.) FM explains SL’s rescue efforts in Iranian warship distress case Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism – Vijitha Herath told Parliament yesterday (March 04) that necessary interventions had been made to admit 30 individuals rescued from the distressed Iranian warship “IRIS Dena” off Sri Lankan territorial waters to the Karapitiya National Hospital for treatment. The Minister made these remarks in response to questions raised by Opposition Leader – Sajith Premadasa and MP – Chamara Sampath Dassanayake regarding the incident. According to foreign media reports, the vessel had been travelling from Visakhapatnam Port to Iran with around 180 individuals on board. It was further reported that around 80 bodies were recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy from the surrounding sea area. Addressing Parliament, Minister Herath stated, “This vessel did not distress in our territorial waters. Our Navy and Coast Guard received a message at 5.08 am that the vessel was sinking. Accordingly, we intervened at 6.00 a.m. The first vessel was sent at 6.00 a.m. Then another naval vessel was sent at around 7.00 a.m. Both the Navy and the Air Force jointly intervened and managed to rescue around 30 individuals who were in critical condition. Based on available reports, about 180 persons had been on board. The rescued individuals are currently being transported to Karapitiya Hospital for treatment. We are bound by the ‘International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue’ (SAR) of 1979, which we have signed. According to this convention, if a vessel or its crew encounters danger beyond our territorial limits, we are obligated to intervene and protect those lives on humanitarian grounds, regardless of their nationality or the cause of the accident. It’s a responsibility. A duty. An intervention that must be carried out with humanity. Accordingly, we carried out that intervention. Our health staff at Karapitiya Hospital are currently intervening to save the lives of those who are in critical condition.”