Sri Lanka grants one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued after US submarine attack
Colombo maintains neutral stance as it provides humanitarian protection to 240 crew from two vessels while diplomatic talks on repatriation continue
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — March 9, 2026 — Sri Lanka has granted free one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued from two distressed naval vessels following a US submarine attack last week, allowing them to remain in the island nation under humanitarian protection as authorities coordinate with Iranian diplomats on their eventual repatriation .
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala announced the decision Sunday, confirming that the temporary visas would be issued to all survivors brought to Sri Lanka after maritime incidents involving Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean .
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“They will be granted one-month gratis visas,” Wijepala told reporters, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper . He emphasized that the decision was guided strictly by international legal obligations and not intended to support or oppose any country amid the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel .
“We will not take sides but will act on a humanitarian basis under international law,” Wijepala stressed .
Rescue operation details
A US submarine attacked the Iranian warship IRIS Dena approximately 40 kilometres south of Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday, killing 104 sailors and wounding 32 others, who were subsequently rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy . The vessel was torpedoed just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
Of the 32 survivors from the Dena, 22 have been discharged from Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle and transferred to Koggala Air Force Base under security, while 10 remain hospitalised, including eight still receiving emergency treatment .
A few days later, Sri Lanka evacuated 208 crew members from a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr, after it requested assistance from Colombo . The crew from the Bushehr have been moved to a Sri Lanka Navy facility, and their vessel has been taken over by Sri Lankan authorities .
Both vessels were returning from the Milan Peace 2026 naval drills in India when the attack occurred .
Humanitarian framework and diplomatic engagement
Wijepala said the decision to grant visas was made in strict accordance with international conventions and maritime laws applicable to Sri Lanka . During the one-month period, the state is providing necessary medical treatment and health check-ups, prioritizing humanitarian needs in accordance with United Nations conventions and international maritime laws .
The government is yet to make a decision on repatriation. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said Sri Lanka would strictly adhere to relevant international laws to handle the situation .
A discussion was scheduled for Sunday between government authorities and officials of the Iranian Embassy in Sri Lanka regarding next steps for the sailors currently in Sri Lankan custody, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) .
“A decision on how to proceed with the Iranian sailors will be made after the discussion with embassy officials,” Jayasekara told Ada Derana .
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Bodies of deceased sailors await repatriation
Sri Lanka is also holding the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in the attack, which were retrieved from the Indian Ocean and taken to Karapitiya Hospital . The magisterial inquiry and post-mortems on the bodies were concluded on March 5, with 80 of the 84 personnel identified by survivors.
The government said conditions have not yet improved sufficiently to attempt sending the bodies by air or sea, and further discussions with Iranian diplomats will determine the timeline and method for their repatriation .
Neutrality and national security
Wijepala assured that Sri Lanka is maintaining a neutral and non-aligned policy in line with international conventions amid rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, while emphasizing that national security remains a top priority .
He acknowledged that global conflicts can have indirect impacts on countries like Sri Lanka but stressed that the country’s national security framework remains strong and uncompromised . The administration led by the National People’s Power (NPP) is committed to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and ensuring the safety of all citizens, he added .
Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni expressed similar views regarding the measures to be followed concerning the Iranian sailors currently in Sri Lanka’s custody as well as the bodies of the deceased .
Regional context
The attack on the Dena marked the first military strike far outside the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran nine days ago . The three Iranian ships—including the Dena and Bushehr—were part of a multinational naval exercise held by India before the conflict in the Middle East began.
India separately allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in the south-west port of Kochi on “humane” grounds after it reported engine problems, with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stating the decision was guided by humanitarian principles .
Sri Lanka’s decision to grant one-month visas to 240 rescued Iranian sailors reflects the island nation’s careful navigation of a complex humanitarian and diplomatic situation arising from the widening US-Israeli conflict with Iran. By grounding its response in international maritime law and UN conventions while maintaining dialogue with Iranian diplomats, Colombo seeks to balance its humanitarian obligations with its longstanding policy of neutrality.
As diplomatic discussions continue on repatriation arrangements for both the living sailors and the bodies of the 104 deceased, Sri Lanka finds itself an unexpected participant in the conflict’s humanitarian fallout. For the injured sailors recovering in Galle hospitals and their comrades awaiting clarity on their future, the one-month visas offer temporary certainty in a time of profound uncertainty.
With inputs from
1 BERNAMA-Anadolu: Sri Lanka To Extend Stay Of Iranian Sailors Rescued After US Submarine Attack
2 Free Malaysia Today: Sri Lanka to extend stay of Iranian sailors rescued after US submarine attack
3 Anadolu Ajansı: Sri Lanka to extend stay of Iranian sailors rescued after US submarine attack
4 Daily Mirror: Govt. assures national security amid global tensions
5 Xinhua: Sri Lanka to grant one-month free visas to rescued Iranians on humanitarian grounds
6 The Hindu: Sri Lanka to grant one month visas to distressed Iranian sailors: Minister
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