COLOMBO — Sri Lanka repatriated 238 Iranian sailors, including 32 who survived a U.S. torpedo attack that sank their ship in the Indian Ocean. A U.S. submarine sank the IRIS Dena on March 4 while the vessel was returning home after taking part in a naval exercise on invitation from India.

The Sri Lankan navy recovered 87 bodies from the sinking, and 32 survivors were hospitalized before being sent home. A second Iranian ship was brought to a southern Sri Lankan port after its crew reported technical problems, and has since been anchored in the eastern port of Trincomalee.

Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Franklin Joseph said everyone except for a few crew members from the second ship had been repatriated in recent days. No decision has been taken on what should be done with the Iranian ship anchored in Trincomalee.

H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, a retired former foreign secretary and permanent representative to the United Nations, said Sri Lanka ensured it was not seen to be taking sides but acted on the basis of legality, humanity and international law. "I think it (Sri Lanka) has proven its policy posture not only in words but also in deeds," Palihakkara said. "All parties to the conflict have acknowledged that. It has enhanced Sri Lanka's government's credibility," he said.

He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declined two requests on the same day — one from the U.S. to land military aircraft in Sri Lanka and another from Iran to bring its warships ashore.

Sri Lanka is emerging from an economic crisis. The U.S. and Iran are Sri Lanka's crucial trading partners. The U.S. assisted with an International Monetary Fund bailout deal and helped Sri Lanka's agricultural sector avert a food crisis.