by Our Correspond in Colombo
The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors who were killed in a United States Navy attack within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone are scheduled to repatriate to Tehran today afternoon on a special charter flight. The remains were transported from Galle Hospital to Mattala International Airport before being transferred onto a cargo aircraft arranged with the assistance of the Iranian Embassy in Colombo.
Sri Lankan authorities coordinated the transfer with Iranian diplomatic officials in Colombo to facilitate the repatriation. The bodies were moved under special arrangements to Mattala International Airport, where a cargo aircraft chartered for the operation departed for Tehran carrying the remains of the sailors.
Meanwhile, the Colombo Municipal Council observed a minute’s silence yesterday in memory of the slain Supreme Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei. The motion was moved by United National Party member Ayub Khan at the council and seconded by United Peace Alliance member Kalilur Rahman.
The repatriation took place amid continuing political reactions to the naval attack that occurred within Sri Lanka’s maritime zone. The incident has drawn attention both locally and internationally due to its implications for regional security and the presence of foreign military forces in waters close to Sri Lanka.
Separately, the organization Citizens’ Power Against Corruption and Waste filed a complaint on the 9th of this month with the Marine Environment Protection Authority, calling for an investigation into the damage to Sri Lanka’s marine environment caused by the torpedo attack on the Iranian vessel by an American submarine.
The complaint urges authorities to examine potential pollution and environmental damage affecting Sri Lanka’s oceans, coastal regions, and fishing communities as a result of the incident. It also requests that legal action be pursued within Sri Lanka’s existing legal framework and international law to ensure accountability and to seek compensation if environmental damage is confirmed.
This news has been updated
