Sri Lanka provides medical help and repatriates 40 Iranian sailors stranded in the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka has responded to a distress call and provided medical help to 40 Iranian sailors from ships anchored near its watersByBHARATHA MALLAWARACHI Associated PressOctober 25, 2026, 10:41 AMCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka has responded to a distress call and provided medical help to 40 Iranian sailors from ships anchored close to the island’s waters before repatriating them to Tehran, a spokesperson said Sunday.The sailors were brought to the island’s southern port of Galle on Saturday after Sri Lankan authorities received a distress call seeking medical help, said Thushara Rodrigo, the foreign ministry spokesperson.He said he doesn’t have details about which ships the sailors came from. He said they were transported to the shore by vessels arranged by the Iranian Embassy and local shipping agents. The ministry handled the immigration and institutional formalities.After initial medical treatment, they left Sri Lanka early Sunday, added Rodrigo.The Iranian oil tankers have been anchored off Sri Lanka for the past several months after the U.S. resumed its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving dozens of Iranian vessels stranded and unable to return home.The plight of these...