Over 200 onboard second Iranian vessel being brought ashore; ship to be moved to Trinco – President

More than 200 people on board a second Iranian Navy ship, the "IRIS Bushehr," near Sri Lanka's waters are currently being brought to Colombo, according to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He mentioned that the Sri Lanka Navy is preparing to transport the crew from the ship to Colombo Harbour. After that, the Iranian vessel will be relocated to Trincomalee Harbour, as confirmed by the President during a special announcement at a press briefing held at the Presidential Secretariat. The President urged all parties not to take advantage of the situation for political gain. He emphasized that cooperation from everyone is crucial for achieving global peace. In his comments at the briefing, President Dissanayake said, "Given the current conflict in the Middle East and other international disputes, we must remain neutral. We will not allow our land, waters, or airspace to be used in a way that favors one side or harms another nation. Since the beginning of this conflict, our actions and statements have reflected this stance. The issue with the two Iranian vessels also follows this principle of neutrality. As a country, while we uphold our neutrality, we prioritize humanity. We will always act to protect lives. If there are necessary actions to save human lives, we will take them without hesitation. I believe this is the best approach for governing a state, and we will continue to operate within this framework."