Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the government has assumed control of the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr and its crew in accordance with international conventions. The ship is being moved away from the main commercial harbor of the country. IRIS Bushehr, an Iranian naval vessel that participated in a 2026 International Fleet Review in India, faced an unfortunate incident when another Iranian ship, IRIS Dena, sank off the southern coast due to a US submarine attack.
President Dissanayake stated that IRIS Bushehr had informed Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 4 about its intention to enter a Sri Lankan port. Sri Lanka, known for its humanitarian approach, managed the situation following international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Describing the situation as unusual due to the ship’s involvement in a conflict, the president mentioned ongoing discussions with the ship’s captain, crew, and the Iranian Embassy. Following established procedures, the vessel and its personnel are now under the care of Sri Lanka. To maintain commercial sensitivity, the decision was made not to dock the ship at the Port of Colombo. Instead, the crew will be transferred to Colombo by naval vessels, and the ship will be relocated to the Trincomalee Port area in the east of the country.
President Dissanayake disclosed that the crew, consisting of officers, cadet officers, and sailors, will undergo medical examinations and registration upon arrival. They will then be accommodated at the Welisara Navy Camp in Sri Lanka’s Western Province. Subsequently, a joint team comprising Sri Lankan naval personnel and members of the ship’s crew will navigate the vessel to the Trincomalee area after the crew’s evacuation.
