The Sri Lankan Navy has recovered multiple bodies from the sea during its extensive search and rescue operation off the island's southern coast after an Iranian warship sank in international waters. Navy officials also confirmed that multiple survivors were rescued and are currently receiving medical attention.

Although the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, Navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath emphasized that the area falls within the nation's designated Search and Rescue (SAR) region.

"We are the first responders as per international obligations," Sampath stated, noting that the Navy acted immediately upon receiving a distress signal.

Upon arriving at the coordinates provided in the distress call, naval teams found no sign of a vessel on the surface, observing only significant oil slicks. However, rescue teams successfully located and pulled several survivors from the water.

"We found people floating in the water and rescued them. Upon inquiry, we confirmed they belonged to the Iranian ship. They were swiftly transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment," Sampath added.

The operation has shifted toward the recovery of those lost at sea. Several bodies have been retrieved within the demarcated search area. While formal identification is pending, the Navy strongly suspects the deceased are personnel from the ill-fated Iranian vessel.

The incident has been shrouded in geopolitical speculation. Foreign media reports have suggested that the Iranian warship may have been attacked before it sank.

The Sri Lanka Navy has categorically rejected these claims for the time being. "As the Sri Lanka Navy, we completely reject these reports," Sampath told reporters, clarifying that the incident is currently being treated as a maritime accident.

He added that while technical investigations will follow, the priority remains the search and rescue mission. "Whether it was an attack cannot be determined at the moment; our priority is saving lives."

Once the SAR phase is concluded, a technical investigation is expected to be launched to determine the cause of the sinking. The presence of oil spills at the site suggests the vessel may have suffered structural failure or an internal explosion, though officials have cautioned against speculation until the survivors are stable enough to provide a full account of the events leading up to the disaster.