The National Joint Committee (NJC) has urged the government to seek compensation for the environmental damage caused by the US sinking of the unarmed Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and within its Exclusive Economic Zone, on 4 March.

The following is the text of the NJC statement issued jointly by Lt Gen Jagath Dias (Retd) and Dr Anula Wijesundere, co-Presidents of the outfit: Sri Lanka’s economy, political landscape and social fabric was battered for too long due to man-made and natural disasters. This include two southern insurgencies, 30 years of terrorism, tsunami, Covid- 19 pandemic, Easter Sunday terrorist attack-related political instability, 2022 economic collapse, sovereign default announcement in 2022, IMF intervention, Cyclone Ditwah, numerous external shocks, with the latest being the West Asia conflict, could be named a few.

 The sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena on March 4, 2026, roughly 19 to 25 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, caused severe environmental pollution, and long-term economic concerns for local communities.

Comprehensive Damage Assessment

Cost of the recovery of dead and human casualties: Out of approximately 180 personnel of the Iranian warship, the Sri Lankan Navy recovered 84-87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors, with roughly 60 sailors of the ill-fated naval vessel still missing and/or presumed dead.

As of early April 2026, the total financial damage from the IRIS Dena explosion, and sinking, off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, has not yet been fully quantified, but preliminary assessments indicate severe ecological and socio-economic risks that may have to be borne by the taxpayer.

Environmental Impact Assessments

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and other experts have highlighted several critical concerns:

* Toxic Spills: The vessel released thousands of tonnes of hazardous materials, including heavy fuel oil and potentially specialised military chemicals, into a highly sensitive marine ecosystem.

* Shoreline Contamination: Oil barrels and debris, including burnt parts of support craft, have washed ashore in popular coastal areas like Hikkaduwa and Dodanduwa. Laboratory tests by MEPA confirmed the presence of lubricant oil in these areas.

* Threats to Marine Life: The southern coast is a vital habitat for whales, dolphins, and vibrant coral reefs. Experts warn of a “silent” impact on ichthyoplankton (fish eggs and larvae), which are particularly vulnerable during the March-April period.

Turtle Nesting: The incident coincided with the sea turtle nesting season. Oil spills and debris are expected to increase mortality rates for sea turtle hatchlings and impact adults coming ashore to breathe and feed.

 Livelihood and Socio-Economic Damage

The explosion occurred near the international maritime boundary close to Galle, a major hub for tourism and fishing:

Fisheries: Concerned local fishermen were the first to report oil patches. While no immediate mass fish deaths were initially reported, authorities warn that long-term depletion of shallow-water fish stocks is likely with some reports suggesting up to 50% depletion of shallow-water fish in the affected area.

Tourism: Contamination at Hikkaduwa—a key tourist destination—faced disruption /threatened the local hospitality industry with oil staining the shore during the peak tourism season.

Rescue and Recovery: Sri Lanka deployed naval and air force units to rescue 30 out of approximately 180 personnel aboard torpedoed Iranian vessel. The ongoing monitoring and cleanup efforts add a significant administrative and operational burden to the state.

The Damage: While some experts draw parallels to the 2021 MV X-Press Pearl disaster (which cost over $6 billion in environmental damage), the specific “total damage” figure for the IRIS Dena is still being calculated as debris continues to wash ashore

 Accountability and Response

Sri Lanka was left to manage the search-and-rescue (SAR) and environmental clean-up at its own cost, sparking debates regarding liability for damages caused to neutral third parties by warring nations.

A 2021 study on the natural resource damage assessment for oil spills in Sri Lanka states that 39 oil spills occurred in Sri Lanka between 1999 and 2021, including the MV X-Press Pearl. A previous study published in 2017 on oil spill events in marine waters in Sri Lanka showed the sea around Sri Lanka being highly vulnerable to oil spills, as approximately 25% of the world’s oil transportation passes through Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone.

In August 2025, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court ordered owners of the MV X-Press Pearl to pay $1 billion in compensation for the 2021 sinking that caused the country’s worst maritime pollution disaster.

Applying the “polluter pays principle,” the ruling mandates payments for extensive plastic pellet contamination and ecological damage.

Some experts are of the opinion that once the origin of the current oil spill is determined and is confirmed linking to the sunken Iranian warship, those who carried out the attack should be held responsible for any environmental damage.

“This should be then handled at a diplomatic level. Considering the already ailing economy and the financial burden Sri Lankan taxpayer is likely to bear short, medium and long term:

1. N. J. C urge the government to do a thorough and a comprehensive damage assessment involving appropriate experts in each subject matter. N. J. C also urge the government to make necessary early dialogue with parties / countries responsible for the incident in order to recover damage cost/compensation.

2. In the backdrop of continued global tensions, vulnerability of sea trade and maritime activities in the Indian Ocean, N.J.C urge the government to represent / engage appropriate bilateral / multilateral and world bodies to declare Indian Ocean a zone of peace.

3. N. J. C recognizes the need for the government to take proactive measures joined by other littoral states at international level to devise/project a protective package from likely future disasters in the Indian Ocean.