ISTANBUL

Sri Lanka will grant free one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued from distressed naval vessels, allowing them to remain in the island nation under humanitarian protection, a senior government minister said.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said the temporary visas would be issued to survivors brought to Sri Lanka after maritime incidents involving Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean.

“They will be granted one-month gratis visas,” Wijepala told reporters Sunday, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Wijepala said the decision was not intended to support or oppose any country and would be guided by international legal obligations.

“We will not take sides but will act on a humanitarian basis under international law,” he said.

A US submarine last Wednesday attacked the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing 104 sailorsand wounding 32 others, who were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Twenty-two sailors have been transferred to Koggala Air Force Base after receiving medical care, while 10 remain hospitalized, including eight still receiving emergency treatment.

A few days later, Sri Lanka evacuated 208 crew members from a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr, after it requested assistance from Colombo.

Both vessels were returning from the Milan Peace 2026 naval drills in India.