Government monitoring Iranian vessels near Sri Lankan waters

31-Aug-2026

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The Government is closely monitoring reports regarding vessels said to be anchored near Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Director General of Media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tushara Rodrigo has stated.

However, he said Sri Lanka has no responsibility for the vessels as they are located outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, and that no facilities have been provided to them.

The website TankerTrackers has reported that around 20 Iranian fuel-carrying vessels are currently anchored near Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone after being unable to sail towards their home ports.

The vessels are reportedly unable to proceed towards Iranian ports due to the naval blockade imposed by the United States.

Against this backdrop, the website states that around 13 Iranian-flagged fuel tankers, along with several vessels belonging to the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ used to evade sanctions, are currently anchored near Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone seeking security.

However, the website points out that the vessels are currently carrying no fuel.

It has also warned of a possible risk of attacks on the vessels currently anchored off Sri Lanka, against the backdrop of the sinking of the Iris Dena in March after it was attacked by a US submarine around 19 nautical miles off the Sri Lankan coast.

However, the website has noted that under international law, the United States is not permitted to attack vessels located within the territorial waters of a neutral country, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline.