ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka prolonged an official invitation to Iranian ships, together with the ill-fated IRIS Dena which was sunk by a US submarine torpedo with none warning, Iran’s Ambassador to Colombo mentioned.
The assault on IRIS Dena killed 104 sailors together with 20 lacking in motion whereas Sri Lanka rescued 32 who at the moment are within the island nation after remedy.
IRIS Dena was in India for MILAN 2026, a world naval train earlier than crusing towards Sri Lanka.
“Through the train in India, your navy commander invited from Iranian Navy commander to ship these vessels to Sri Lankan’s waters with a view to have pleasant visits,” Alireza Delkhosh the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sri Lanka instructed reporters at a media briefing in Colombo on Monday (23).
He mentioned the invitation was for all three ships: IRIS Dena, IRIS Boshehr, and IRIS Lavan.
He mentioned IRIS Dena, which left Tehran earlier than the beginning of Center Japanese battle, was not prepared for warfare.
“It participated in a peaceable train in India. Through the presence in India, this vessel with two different vessels was invited—I repeat, invited—by the Sri Lankan facet to return right here and simply keep. They got here right here upon their invitation.”
“And once they have been right here, they didn’t obtain any alerts upfront from United States. They attacked it with none warfare, with none alerts.”
“Most of those killed folks weren’t armed personnel. They have been from a music group. They have been taking part in saxophone and violin and so they have been killed with none alerts.”
Sri Lankan officers have mentioned the Navy Commander’s invitation was casual and was not adopted up in writing.
The federal government has mentioned the Iran Embassy in Colombo requested “Goodwill Visits” for all three ships from March 9-13. The IRIS Dena was attacked on March 4.
Nevertheless, opposition legislators within the parliament quoted Iran Embassy officers stating that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s authorities saved IRIS Dena for 11 hours despote it requested pressing entry on March 3.
Ambassador Delkhosh mentioned he didn’t have confirmed info on the 11-hour wait.
“Dena was in an pressing place and so they requested permission to enter the waters. However I don’t have any confirmed documentary info on whether or not they requested for pressing permission or not,” he mentioned.
“In that case, completely any nations, I imply, there isn’t a distinction between impartial or not impartial nations, all nations ought to have some tasks, even from humanitarian level of views to present assist to them.” (Colombo/March 23/2026)
