• Sri Lankan Navy rescues 32 "critically wounded" sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.
• The frigate sank following a distress call early on March 4, 2023.
• Search operations continue for missing crew members believed to be unaccounted for.
• Speculations arise regarding the cause of the sinking, including potential military involvement.

The Sri Lankan military has successfully rescued 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which sank off the coast of Galle on March 4, 2023. The distressed vessel issued a call for help at dawn, prompting a swift response from the Sri Lankan Navy, which dispatched two vessels and an aircraft for the rescue operation, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

Following the rescue, the injured sailors were transported to a hospital in Galle for treatment. Initial reports suggested that an explosion caused the sinking, although no official assessment regarding the incident's cause has yet been released. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that “critical wounds” were treated, highlighting the severity of injuries sustained during the incident, as noted by India Times and South China Morning Post.

Reports indicate that there may have been as many as 101 crew members unaccounted for at the time of the rescue, sparking ongoing search efforts in the area. The Sri Lankan defense ministry is actively involved in locating other potential survivors and determining the circumstances surrounding the sinking, as stated by India Times and Channel News Asia.

There is speculation surrounding the nature of the attack that led to the vessel's sinking, with some parliamentarians raising questions about the possibility of external military aggression, particularly in relation to ongoing tensions involving Iran, although the government has not confirmed any such claims. Visibility into the situation remains constrained due to the ongoing investigation, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.