President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the crew of the Iranian vessel, IRIS Busehehr, currently near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, will be disembarked at the Port of Colombo, while the vessel itself will be moved to the Port of Trincomalee.
A total of 208 personnel from the Iranian vessel will be disembarked at the Port of Colombo, he said.
Speaking at a special media briefing, the President said the decision was taken due to security and maritime concerns, noting that Colombo is Sri Lanka’s main economic port and a key hub for international shipping.
Sri Lanka Navy personnel are already engaged in the operation to bring the crew safely ashore. A total of 208 personnel will be disembarked at the Colombo Port, including 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors.
The vessel will then be navigated to the Port of Trincomalee by a team of Sri Lankan naval personnel, he said. The crew will initially be taken to Welisara Navy camp, where they will undergo medical evaluations.
Addressing the media briefing the President explained the developments prior to the US attack on the Iranian warship off the coast of Galle, yesterday.
Iran had sought permission from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry to dock three vessels in local ports, between March 9 and 13 for a goodwill visit, the President said.
“We all know that a goodwill visit does not happen that way and requires a lot of protocol, which were being studied at the time” the President explained.
The request was being evaluated by the Defence Ministry and other authorities, he said, adding that authorities were aware of both its international convention obligations as well as the escalating war situation.
He said during this period, it was also communicated that one of the Iranian vessels had suffered engine damage.
“On 27th it had been communicated that a sailor onboard the IRIS Busehser which is currently near Colombo port, suffered a fall and needed medical treatment. Our personnel brought the injured sailor and another person ashore for medical treatment” the President said.
“Meanwehile on the 4th of March it was reported that a vessel had been attacked and a distress alert was issued.”
“That is why I said, we are neutral but also humanitarian,” President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. “We knew that a number of lives were at risk. Our Navy and Air Force responded immediately.”
Following the distress call, a humanitarian operation was launched, where 32 personnel were rescued and treated at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, while 84 bodies had been recovered.
The President stressed that Sri Lanka is bound by international conventions such as The Hague and maritime conventions.
Asked whether Sri Lanka’s humanitarian assistance to the Iranian crew will likely aggravate the United States, he said that it is unlikely.
“This is in no way extending support to war. This is concerning lives. As a country it is our duty to protect them. That is our approach,” he said adding that any country which needs assistance in such a situation will receive Sri Lanka’s support. “What they must question is if we are not acting according to international conventions,” he said.
Dissanayake stressed that although diplomatic discussions have been held with various parties, this decision has been an independent decision by Sri Lanka, and not influenced by any nation.
Responding to concerns that the vessels had gone undetected, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the ships had been monitored since Feb. 26.
He added that there were no reports of other such vessels currently near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
The President reiterated that Sri Lanka will maintain an independent and neutral position.
“We are not partisan to any country, nor are we subject to any country. We are a sovereign nation,” he said, adding that the government’s responsibility is to the state, its people and the seas, and that the country and its citizens will remain the government’s priority.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka will support all efforts to promote global peace and called on all parties involved in the war to demonstrate their commitment to that goal. (Newswire)