Sri Lanka evacuates 40 Iranian seafarers from vessels off southern coast

Sri Lanka coordinated a humanitarian operation to evacuate 40 Iranian seafarers requiring medical treatment from merchant vessels located about 24 nautical miles off the southern coast, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday.
The operation was arranged and facilitated by the Iranian Embassy in Colombo, with the crew members brought ashore through the Port of Galle for medical treatment.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo told the media that Sri Lanka had coordinated the ship-to-shore transfer in line with its humanitarian obligations, while the Iranian Embassy covered the costs.
The ministry said all 40 seafarers departed Sri Lanka for Iran on Saturday after receiving treatment.
Several Iranian merchant vessels have remained anchored outside Sri Lanka's 12-nautical-mile territorial waters.
Sri Lankan authorities have maintained that the vessels are in international waters, where freedom of navigation applies.
Defense officials said reconnaissance aircraft and patrol vessels had been deployed to monitor the ships.
Sri Lanka provided humanitarian assistance to Iranian naval personnel brought ashore after falling ill on vessels outside the country’s territorial waters in accordance with international maritime law and recognised humanitarian principles, Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni said earlier.