Nine Iranian sailors freed from prisons in Sri Lanka following talks between FMs
Nine Iranian sailors have been freed from prisons in Sri Lanka following an agreement between the two countries' foreign ministers and in line with bilateral humanitarian cooperation.
The Iranian prisoners, from Chabahar city in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, were released following efforts by the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Colombo and upon an order from Sri Lankan authorities for the first time in the consular relations between the two countries.
The inmates were handed over to Iran’s embassy in Colombo and are set to return home soon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry agreed last week to free the two sides’ prisoners based on the existing agreements and a humanitarian approach. The two top diplomats also agreed that the joint consular committee of the two countries would be set up in this regard.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is scheduled to extradite two Iranian inmates to the country within the next few days in line with the agreements reached between the two countries and following efforts by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and Judiciary.
