Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament, former minister, and the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has raised concerns over the sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena near Sri Lankan waters, warning that the incident could undermine long-standing maritime norms in the Indian Ocean.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2026, Rajapaksa said the vessel had reportedly taken part in joint naval exercises with the Indian Navy near Visakhapatnam before it was allegedly torpedoed by a submarine belonging to the United States Navy. According to him, more than 80 Iranian sailors were killed in the incident.
Rajapaksa questioned the legality of the strike, stating that such an action could be seen as unlawful and could weaken long-standing international norms governing maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
Calling for stronger regional cooperation, he urged countries to strengthen mechanisms such as the Colombo Security Conclave and other maritime domain awareness initiatives, stressing that India should play a leading role in ensuring stability across the region.
The Sri Lankan MP also criticised reports that the United States Department of State had asked Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian survivors, saying Colombo must retain the sovereign right to make decisions based on its own national interest.
During the discussion, Rajapaksa also addressed the long-standing maritime dispute over Katchatheevu, reiterating that the island belongs to Sri Lanka under the 1974 India–Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreement. He urged Indian political leaders to recognise the bilateral agreement that settled the issue.
Rajapaksa also referred to Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, alleging that external actors had played a role in the political upheaval that followed. He rejected corruption allegations frequently directed at the Rajapaksa family in connection with the crisis.
