Sri Lanka Repatriates 40 Stranded Iranian Sailors

Sri Lanka coordinated the rescue of 40 Iranian sailors after distress calls over medical conditions from vessels off Galle. Sailors were transferred ship-to-shore through the Port of Galle, treated, and repatriated to Iran. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, "We rescued 40 sailors, provided them with medical treatment and repatriated them this morning." Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said, "We have coordinated the transfer and carried out our humanitarian obligations," adding "the costs were borne by the Iranian embassy." The ministry worked with the Iranian Embassy via diplomatic channels; the embassy arranged and paid for the evacuation. CONTESTED: Herath said repatriation was Saturday morning Oct 24; Reuters said early Sunday morning. Reuters put the sailors on 19 ships and Galle about 126 km from Colombo; Hirunews listed 115 km. Other outlets called them merchant vessels. Nearly a dozen empty Iranian oil tankers remained anchored off Galle. Coverage cites a U.S. blockade and sanctions disrupting Iranian maritime operations. Vessels sat about 24 nautical miles off Galle, beyond the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit; authorities said they are monitoring the ships. The rescue follows Sri Lanka's earlier assistance after a U.S. submarine torpedo sank the IRIS Dena on March 4.