Survivors of IRIS Dena leave Sri Lanka for Iran

Survivors of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena, sunk in a US attack, have left Sri Lanka for Iran. India also allowed another vessel, IRIS Lavan, to dock in Kochi, highlighting humanitarian support amid regional tensions

Colombo: Survivors of IRIS Dena, the Iranian naval vessel sunk in a US attack in early March, have left Sri Lanka for Iran, a senior Sri Lankan military official said.

According to Aruna Jayasekara, deputy defence minister of Sri Lanka, 32 survivors were repatriated alongside more than 200 personnel on board IRIS Bushehr, another Iranian naval vessel. The personnel were said to have departed Sri Lanka on a special flight on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

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IRIS Dena was attacked and sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lankan waters in the early days of the military conflict in the Middle East. During the rescue operation, the Sri Lankan Navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people.

IRIS Bushehr sought permission to enter Sri Lankan waters in early March. On March 6, personnel on board the vessel were evacuated to Colombo Port by the Sri Lankan Navy and have been under Sri Lankan custody ever since.

Meanwhile, another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Lavan, had docked in Kerala’s Kochi after India granted emergency permission following a reported technical malfunction, even as the sinking of another Iranian warship by an American torpedo has triggered wider geopolitical ripples.

The Iranian warship reached Kochi on March 4 after the Union government approved Tehran’s request to allow the vessel to make an urgent halt for technical reasons.

The ship had earlier detected a fault while operating in the region and sought India’s assistance to dock for necessary checks and support.

IRIS Lavan had arrived in the region to participate in the International Fleet Review.

The technical issue was reportedly detected on February 28, following which Iran approached India requesting permission for the vessel to dock at Kochi.

The Union government cleared the request on March 1, paving the way for the ship to enter the Kochi port.

Later on March 9, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha that Iran had expressed its gratitude to India for what he described as a “humane gesture” after New Delhi allowed IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi port.

“The Iranian side had requested permission on February 20, 2026, for three ships in the region to dock at our ports. This was accorded on March 1, 2026. IRIS Lavan actually docked on March 4, 2026, in Kochi. The crew is currently in Indian Naval facilities. We believe this is the right thing to do. The Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed his country’s thanks for this humane gesture,” EAM Jaishankar told the House.