Sri Lanka initiated the formal repatriation process on Friday for the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who lost their lives when their frigate, the IRIS Dena, was sunk nine days ago off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The incident, which involved a US submarine torpedoing the vessel on March 4, marked a significant escalation of the Middle East conflict into the Indian Ocean.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Thushara Rodrigo, all necessary legal and medical procedures have been concluded.

"All domestic procedures have been completed, and the Iranians are bringing a chartered aircraft for the repatriation," Rodrigo confirmed.

He further noted that the 32 sailors rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy remain in the country’s custody.

The remains, which were recovered from the Indian Ocean, had been transported to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle for autopsies.

Following a directive from a local magistrate, the remains were processed and handed over to the Iranian embassy in Colombo for transit.

By Friday afternoon, an initial batch of 46 bodies had already reached Mattala International Airport in southern Sri Lanka, where they awaited an Iranian chartered cargo plane for the final journey home.

While the repatriation process moves forward, the Iranian embassy in Colombo has yet to provide an official statement regarding the incident.

The sinking of the IRIS Dena remains a focal point of international concern as regional tensions continue to impact maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Source: AFP