No Iranian Ships in Sri Lankan Waters, Sri Lanka Clarifies

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Government has clarified that several Iranian-linked vessels currently operating near the island remain in international waters and have not entered Sri Lanka's territorial sea, while security authorities continue to closely monitor the situation.

Speaking at a media briefing, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath said reports suggesting the presence of Iranian vessels near Sri Lanka should be viewed within the proper maritime context.

According to the Minister, there are currently around 47 vessels operating in the area, including a small number of Iranian vessels. However, he stressed that all of them are located beyond Sri Lanka's territorial waters.

The Minister explained that Sri Lanka's territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that the vessels in question remain beyond that limit in international waters.

"We have observed that these vessels are outside Sri Lanka's maritime boundary. None of them are within Sri Lanka's territorial waters," Herath said.

He noted that the presence of commercial and cargo vessels in international waters awaiting cargo operations is not unusual and can be observed in maritime zones adjacent to several countries, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka has not provided any special assistance, facilitation or support to the vessels in question.

According to Herath, no requests have been received from any of the vessels under provisions of international maritime law, and the Government has not extended any form of logistical or operational support.

"It is true that a number of vessels are present in the vicinity. Our Navy is monitoring the situation very closely, but beyond that there has been no intervention by the Government," he said.

Herath also revealed that the matter came to the Government's attention following a communication from the United States Embassy, which informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that several Iranian vessels were operating in the vicinity and inquired whether Sri Lankan authorities were aware of the situation and conducting monitoring activities.

Following that communication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry responsible for Ports and Shipping, after which the relevant authorities began coordinating surveillance and observation activities.

The Foreign Minister reiterated that based on all information available to the Government, none of the vessels have entered Sri Lanka's territorial waters.

His remarks come amid heightened international attention on maritime movements in the Indian Ocean, a strategically important shipping corridor through which a significant portion of global trade and energy supplies pass each year.

The Government maintains that while vessel movements in nearby international waters are being observed, there is currently no indication that any of the vessels have violated Sri Lanka's maritime boundaries, and authorities will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the relevant agencies.