Sri Lankan Catholic Church Praises Government’s Humanitarian Response to Iranian Naval Incident

The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka has formally commended the government’s decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Iranian naval personnel following a recent maritime disaster off the southern coast.

The National Director of Catholic Communications, Fr. Jude Krishantha, said the government’s actions, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, reflect core humanitarian values aligned with Christian teachings.

Fr. Krishantha likened the state’s response to the Parable of the Good Samaritan. “In the parable told by Jesus, the neighbor to the wounded Jew was not his own people, but the Samaritan, someone usually looked down upon. Similarly, the government’s decision to welcome and treat these individuals during a time of global tension is a profound humanitarian gesture,” he said.

Details of the Maritime Incident
The crisis began in the early hours of March 4, when the Iranian naval vessel Sarasi Lab was reportedly struck by a U.S. submarine torpedo in international waters, approximately 40 nautical miles off Galle. The unarmed vessel was returning from naval exercises in the Indian Ocean at the invitation of the Indian government.

The incident resulted in 84 confirmed fatalities, with the Sri Lanka Navy recovering the bodies. Out of 180 crew members on board, 82 survivors were rescued and are currently receiving medical care at Karapitiya National Hospital in Galle. Local residents quickly mobilized to provide food and clothing, though authorities restricted direct access to the patients for security reasons.

On March 5, the Sri Lanka Navy also assisted another Iranian vessel off Panadura, safely transporting 208 individuals to Colombo Port via Trincomalee Port. The government’s prompt actions have drawn praise from neutral nations and the United Nations for adhering to international law and prioritizing human life.

Cardinal Calls for Peace
During a National Children’s Day event at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka on March 7, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, voiced concern over escalating conflicts in the Middle East involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Describing war as the “action of fools,” the Cardinal said, “Those who think they are strong because they wage war are, in reality, the weak. It is heartbreaking to see world leaders boasting about their weaponry and threatening more destruction. They do not realize the inhumanity of their own words.”

Invoking the spirit of Pope Leo XIII, he emphasized that peace is achieved through justice and dialogue, not arms. He concluded by calling on citizens to pray for global peace amid an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.