The vessel reported engine trouble and sought port entry after another Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, was hit by a US torpedo off Sri Lanka's southern coast on Wednesday. Washington later announced it carried out the attack, which killed at least 84 Iranian sailors aboard and left 64 more missing. Thirty-two sailors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and were being treated at a hospital in the southern port city of Galle. Wednesday's attack was the first military strike far outside the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran. Sri Lanka has remained neutral in the latest conflict.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 06, 2026 12:23 UTC