Bodies of Iranian sailors kept on ice as mortuary exceeds capacity

5 March 2026 03:36 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 5 (Daily Mirror) - Several bodies of Iranian sailors killed in the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena are being kept on ice outside the Karapitiya Hospital mortuary after the facility exceeded its storage capacity, hospital sources said.

The bodies, which were brought ashore following the maritime disaster off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, were transported in trucks to the hospital in Galle.

With the mortuary unable to accommodate the large number of remains, authorities temporarily placed several of the bodies in refrigerated storage units and ice preservation containers outside the mortuary until further arrangements could be made.

The fatalities occurred after the Iranian warship IRIS Dena sank in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka after being struck by a torpedo reportedly fired from a U.S. submarine.

Sri Lankan authorities launched search and rescue operations following a distress signal from the vessel.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, at least 87 sailors were killed in the incident while 32 survivors were rescued from the sea and admitted to hospitals in the southern region for treatment.

Dozens of others remain missing as search operations continue.

Comments - 8

Shera Thursday, 05 March 2026 04:27 PM

Doesn't Islam require burial within 24hhrs? Perhaps Sabry and Hakeem could do the needful since they had cozy ties with the now eradicated ruthless Iranian regime.

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Human Thursday, 05 March 2026 11:58 PM

Ruthless? Shera all sides in this conflict are ruthless, Iran was ruthless towards its own, the Is-real was ruthless to the whole of middle east and uncle Sam was ruthless towards the whole world. Sadly based on their religious views people forgot humanity and human suffering.

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janaka Thursday, 05 March 2026 04:33 PM

Any war poor soldiers get killed who has families.. US or Iran.. soldiers are soldiers paying the price. Sad

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Lanka Thursday, 05 March 2026 04:57 PM

Sri Lanka navy, medical teams, people and the government have done a greater humanitarian service in this regards : we Sri Lankans no part in any side and we don’t support any side or are impartial on this war, but when it comes to humanisms, kindness, love, compassion and helping people in time of desperation and despair we are the first one to help who matter what race, what colours , what religion and what language they speak : this is a difference between religiously, ethically and morally developed nations and others : Sri Lankan people are kind and compassionate: this incident should send a strong message to all those who engage in wars and conflicts:

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Nihal Thursday, 05 March 2026 06:05 PM

Wait for it! The substance-less opposition—SJB, SLPP, Wimal and Gammanpila—may soon drop another gem: like; the government secretly colluding with the aggressors to make sure the mortuaries run out of space for Iranian war dead sailors. Next, they’ll accuse the President of plotting with undertakers to boost coffin sales -They are coming out with truly groundbreaking stuff lately.

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MARK THE WORDS OF THE MAJORITY Thursday, 05 March 2026 11:14 PM

NIHAL, SPOT ON. DESPERATION KNOWS NO BOUNDRIES AND SO THEY KEEP TRYING TO BRING THE PRESIDENT/NPP GOVT INTO DISREPUTE, NOT HAPPENING ONLY HELPING THE GOVT GATHER MORE SUPPORTERS.

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Upulpb Thursday, 05 March 2026 09:08 PM

It will be better off for the county to finalise the funeral arrangements. For how long can the government hold on to the remains?

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IRAN HAS REQUESTED TO HAVE THE BODIES SENT BACK TO IRAN Thursday, 05 March 2026 11:16 PM

BODIES MUST GO BACK TO THE FAMILY FOR THEM TO HAVE CLOSURE.

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