Sri Lankan President Dissanayake stated on the 5th that the Sri Lankan Navy is arranging for the personnel on board the Iranian warship "Bushehr" near its territorial waters to be brought to Colombo Port, after which the vessel will be transferred to Trincomalee Port in eastern Sri Lanka.
At a press conference held at the Presidential Palace, he made a statement saying that Sri Lanka will fulfill its international obligations and take necessary measures on humanitarian grounds.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Cabinet spokesman Jayatissa pointed out that the Iranian warship is currently not within Sri Lankan territorial waters, but rather in the exclusive economic zone near the country's maritime boundary.
The "Bushehr" is a logistic support ship of the Iranian military, carrying 208 people on board. Due to an engine failure, the ship requested to enter port from the Sri Lankan side.
This is the second time, following the sinking of an Iranian warship south of Sri Lanka by the US, that another Iranian warship has been sailing in the exclusive economic zone near Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Iranian Navy's frigate "Dena," returning home from India, was sunk by a US Navy submarine using torpedoes in waters south of Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan Navy recovering 87 bodies from the nearby waters.