Sri Lanka has provided medical assistance and repatriated 40 Iranian sailors stranded aboard vessels in international waters near its southeastern coast, following an emergency distress call on Saturday.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo said the sailors were brought ashore at the southern port of Galle, received medical treatment and were subsequently flown back to Iran.
The operation comes amid growing concerns over Iranian vessels stranded near Sri Lanka because of a US naval blockade.
Rodrigo said the Iranian Embassy in Colombo coordinated the rescue with local shipping agents, while Sri Lankan authorities handled immigration procedures and other administrative arrangements.
The sailors were transported to Colombo for further medical attention before their repatriation, which authorities said was completed by early Sunday.
Officials did not specify the medical emergencies affecting the sailors or identify the vessels from which they were evacuated.
The 40 crew members came from multiple ships, although authorities could not confirm their number.
Sri Lanka maintained that its response was strictly humanitarian and did not represent broader assistance to the stranded Iranian fleet.
Rodrigo said providing emergency medical support was consistent with international law and established maritime practices.
The operation follows weeks of mounting difficulties for Iranian vessels unable to return home because of the US naval blockade.
Sri Lankan authorities previously identified 19 ships approximately 24 nautical miles offshore reporting shortages of food, drinking water and fuel.
Earlier this month, the government said it had no immediate plans to supply the vessels, citing national interests and concerns about potential US secondary sanctions.
Sri Lanka has repeatedly emphasized its neutrality in the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, rejecting military access requests from both Washington and Tehran.
The latest rescue also follows the sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena in a US torpedo attack off Sri Lanka in March, which killed more than 80 sailors.
Sri Lankan authorities treated injured survivors and subsequently permitted another Iranian vessel experiencing technical difficulties to dock.
Despite its reluctance to provide broader logistical support, Colombo continues to distinguish emergency humanitarian assistance from involvement in the conflict.