Iran is set to release the Sri Lankan seafarers who have been detained following the arrest of their merchant vessel in foreign waters. The impending release comes after weeks of diplomatic negotiations between the State authorities of Sri Lanka and Iran, it is learnt.
Merchant Shipping Secretariat Director General Asanga Deshapriya confirmed the impending release and detailed the sequence of events that had led to the diplomatic breakthrough. He noted that the State apparatus had been mobilised immediately upon receiving the news of the vessel being detained.
“We were informed about only one vessel that had Sri Lankan seafarers on board. There were three Sri Lankan seafarers on that particular vessel. That vessel was subsequently arrested by the authorities in Iran,” Deshapriya stated, outlining the initial reports received by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat.
The official notification regarding the arrest of the merchant vessel reached the relevant authorities on 22 April. The Merchant Shipping Secretariat initiated its established protocols for dealing with seafarers detained in foreign jurisdictions.
“Upon receiving the information, we immediately informed the Foreign Ministry. We conducted all the necessary diplomatic work required to facilitate their release,” Deshapriya explained, emphasising the inter-agency coordination that was vital to ensuring the welfare of the Sri Lankan citizens involved.
The diplomatic channels remained active over the ensuing weeks, with the Foreign Ministry leading the negotiations with its Iranian counterparts. These continuous efforts eventually yielded a positive outcome, securing the freedom of the detained Sri Lankan crew members.
“I received an official letter from the Foreign Ministry on Friday (19) confirming that two of the seafarers are going to be sent back to Sri Lanka,” Deshapriya said, providing the latest update on the matter.
Accordingly, two of the three seafarers will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday and the other will arrive next week.
While the announcement of the release is a significant relief for the families and the maritime community, strict confidentiality protocols are being maintained regarding the personal identities of the crew members. The local shipping agent responsible for the seafarers has requested absolute privacy to protect the individuals involved. He nevertheless confirmed that all three arrested Sri Lankans were males.
The authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safe repatriation of the released individuals once the final administrative procedures are completed.