Sri Lanka takes control of another Iranian Navy vessel, IRIS Bushehr taken to Trincomalee after evacuating crew at Colombo

The second Iranian ship, IRIS Bushehr, is taken over by Sri Lanka.
Image via Metro Vaartha

Sri Lanka evacuated around 208 crew members from a second Iranian Navy warship off its coast, a day after a United States submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the same waters. On Thursday (5th March), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed that the second ship is going to be taken over by his navy and transported to the port of Trincomalee in the northeast.

Due to damage to the engine, the IRIS Bushehr had asked to dock in one of Sri Lanka’s ports on 4th March (Wednesday) and the permission was granted after hours of deliberation. Dissanayake stated that his government directly discussed the issue with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Similar talks took place between the concerned embassies along with the captain of the vessel and officers of Sri Lankan Navy. Afterwards, an agreement was reached between the two sides regarding the rescue operation.

The nation has emphasised its neutrality and pointed out that it would not take sides in the ongoing dispute involving Iran, Israel and the US. “We are not taking sides in this conflict, but while maintaining our neutrality we are taking action to save lives. No person should die in a war like this. Every life is equally precious,” declared Dissanayake.

The nation outlined that the decision to transport the ship to Trincomalee for safekeeping was made out of concern that it would be targeted or could prove to be a threat to Sri Lankan interests. The ship was close to Colombo,the nation’s principal commercial port, but Dissanayake conveyed that docking there could have “adversely affected” its marine industry. However, the Iris Bushehr’s crew, which consists of 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors and 23 sailors, will be transported to Colombo.

“Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values. We do not believe that any civilian should die in wars. As a state, our approach is to value every human life as equal to our own. Our decisions have been taken accordingly,” Dissanayake reiterated.

Dissanayake stressed that Sri Lanka has “adopted a very clear position” and “do not operate in a biased manner towards any state, nor do we submit to any state” while referring to the country as “neutral” which acted in the light of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the Hague Convention of 1907.

“Steps have already been taken to transfer them from the vessel to our ships and bring them to the Port of Colombo. Subsequently, with the necessary crew and in coordination with our naval personnel, we plan to take the vessel itself to the Port of Trincomalee,” the official statement mentioned.

Dissanayake proclaimed that Sri Lanka is an independent and sovereign nation, and the government is responsible for the state, its seas and its citizens. He added that recent decisions had been made with these “paramount” commitments in mind. “We must not make decisions that place our people or our maritime zones at risk. Therefore, the decisions we take are made with our people and our motherland as the highest priority. No matter what external outcries or pressures may exist, we do not panic or act recklessly,” he underscored.

Sri Lanka stated that its measures have demonstrated the country’s devotion to peace and the government merely intends to “safeguard the reputation and dignity of our country, protects human lives and demonstrates our commitment to international conventions.”

Written by OpIndia Staff
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