Sri Lanka Court Orders Bodies of 84 Iranian Sailors Handed Over to Embassy
A court in Sri Lanka on March 11, 2026 ordered authorities to hand over the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors to the Iran embassy after they were killed when an Iranian naval vessel was reportedly attacked near the island nation’s coast last week, according to local media reports.
The sailors were aboard the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which was allegedly struck by a torpedo fired from a United States submarine while the vessel was returning from a naval exercise organized by India.
Media reports said the court issued the directive on Wednesday following a request submitted by police in the southern port city of Galle. The bodies of the sailors are currently being kept at the morgue of the Galle National Hospital while arrangements are made for their transfer to Iranian diplomatic officials.
Sri Lankan authorities are also dealing with another Iranian vessel that encountered technical difficulties in the same maritime area. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera said 208 crew members from a second Iranian ship were brought ashore after the vessel experienced an engine malfunction.
The government has granted the crew 30-day entry visas, allowing them to remain in the country while technical and diplomatic arrangements are handled.
According to officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka is working closely with the Embassy of Iran in Colombo regarding the situation of the sailors and crew members. The Iranian diplomatic mission is also consulting authorities in Tehran to determine the next steps.
Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said another Iranian vessel, IRIS Booshehr, was located about nine nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s coast and may eventually be moved to Trincomalee Harbour on the island’s eastern shoreline.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had earlier indicated that authorities were assessing the situation and coordinating with relevant agencies regarding the vessel and its crew.
The developments have added a diplomatic dimension to the maritime incident as Sri Lankan officials continue to communicate with Iranian authorities over the handling of the casualties and the status of the affected ships.
To clarify the timeline:
Wednesday, March 4, 2026: The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was struck by a U.S. torpedo off the coast of Galle.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026: Exactly one week later, the Galle Chief Magistrate, Sameera Dodangoda, passed the formal order to hand over the 84 recovered bodies to the Iranian Embassy.
Additional Court Details
The Request: The order was issued following a formal application by the Galle Harbour Police.
The Directive: The Magistrate specifically directed the Director of the Galle National Hospital (Karapitiya) to release the remains, which were being held in mobile refrigeration units due to limited morgue capacity.
Repatriation: This legal clearance was the final step needed to begin the transfer of the deceased sailors back to Tehran.
