Sri Lanka to grant one month visas to distressed Iranian sailors: Minister
The Hindu
Sri Lanka grants one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued after a U.S. submarine attack, ensuring humanitarian support and protection.
Sri Lanka will grant free one-month visas to a group rescued from Iranian vessels, allowing them to remain in Sri Lanka under humanitarian protection, a senior minister said on Sunday (March 8, 2026).
Speaking on the matter, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said similar decisions could be taken in the future if necessary, stressing that such measures are not intended to support or harm any particular party.
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“They will be granted one month gratis visas,” Mr. Wijepala told reporters.
“We will not be taking any sides but will act on a humanitarian basis in terms of international law,” Mr. Wijepala stressed.
There are 32 who had survived the U.S. submarine attack on the sunk ‘Iris Dena’ frigate. Another 186 were evacuated from ‘Iris Bushehr’.
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