• Govt rushes 40-foot freezer containers from Colombo

Freezer facilities at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle are insufficient to store the bodies of Iranian sailors recovered after a naval vessel sank in waters south of Sri Lanka, Chief Government Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament yesterday (5).

He confirmed that 87 bodies recovered by Sri Lanka Navy personnel have been brought ashore and placed at the hospital, creating an urgent need for additional cold storage facilities.

Dr. Jayatissa said the Government does not possess large-capacity freezer units capable of handling such a large number of bodies and has therefore sought assistance from the private sector.

“A 40-foot freezer container is being sent from Colombo to Galle within hours. But one will not be enough. We will need two,” he said, noting that the Ministries of Defence and Health are coordinating the arrangements.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking during the parliamentary debate, said medical professionals at the hospital had already requested 40-foot container units to store the bodies of Iranian nationals brought there.

He expressed hope that the Government would act quickly to address the shortage.

Dr. Jayatissa also stated that special security arrangements have been introduced at the hospital premises to ensure the safety of injured Iranian nationals receiving treatment there.

Arrangements are currently underway to transport additional freezer units from Colombo to Galle to manage the situation.