Colombo: Authorities in Sri Lanka said on Thursday they are closely monitoring another Iranian vessel near their maritime zone following a deadly naval strike that sank an Iranian warship off the island’s southern coast.
Government spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament that officials were aware of a second Iranian ship operating within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone. While he did not specify whether it was a military vessel, he said the government’s immediate focus was ensuring the safety of those at sea and preventing further loss of life.
The development comes a day after the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena was struck roughly 19 nautical miles off the coastal city of Galle. According to Sri Lankan officials, the attack resulted in heavy casualties, with at least 87 people reported dead.
Emergency teams from Sri Lanka responded to a distress call early Wednesday morning and managed to rescue 32 crew members from the water. Authorities said those rescued sustained only minor injuries and are receiving treatment at local hospitals. Search operations continued on Thursday as teams attempted to locate around ten sailors still unaccounted for.
Officials also confirmed that refrigerated units were dispatched from Colombo to assist in preserving bodies recovered during the search and rescue effort.
The incident has triggered a sharp response from Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the strike, stating that the vessel was attacked without warning while sailing in international waters far from the main conflict zone in the Gulf, where tensions involving United States and Israel have been escalating.
In a statement posted on social media, Araqchi warned that the United States would face consequences for the attack, calling it a dangerous precedent.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine carried out the strike, firing a torpedo that ultimately sank the Iranian warship.
The IRIS Dena had recently taken part in a multinational naval exercise hosted by India in the Bay of Bengal and was reportedly returning to Iranian waters when the incident occurred.
Sri Lankan authorities say they will continue monitoring maritime activity in the region while search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
