June 22, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has expressed deep appreciation to India for extending a crucial lifeline to its citizens stranded in Iran, as the regional crisis intensifies.
The move comes in the wake of India’s ongoing evacuation mission, which has been broadened to include foreign nationals from neighbouring countries following direct appeals from Colombo and Kathmandu.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath acknowledged the gesture as a demonstration of the close ties and cooperative spirit that continue to define relations between Sri Lanka and India.
He remarked that such acts of solidarity reinforce the longstanding partnership between the two nations, especially during times of crisis.
India’s evacuation campaign, codenamed Operation Sindhu, was launched in response to the deteriorating security situation in Iran, which remains locked in a volatile military exchange with Israel. The Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed that citizens of Sri Lanka and Nepal would now be eligible for evacuation alongside Indian nationals, with coordination lines and emergency channels established for urgent assistance.
Sri Lankans currently in Iran seeking evacuation have been advised to contact the Indian Embassy through a dedicated Telegram platform or emergency telephone lines, as well as reach out to their own mission in Tehran for support.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka has also issued helpline numbers staffed by multilingual officers to streamline communication.
The evacuation efforts are taking place against a backdrop of rapidly escalating military action in the Middle East. On Saturday (21), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a targeted operation had been executed against key nuclear infrastructure in Iran, including the suspected facility at Fordow.
In a post on social media, Trump declared the mission a success and hinted at a desire for de-escalation, writing, “Now is the time for peace.”
Whilst the Pentagon confirmed the involvement of U.S. B-2 bombers in the strike, questions remain as to whether Israeli forces participated in the coordinated assault.
In parallel, Israel has continued its aerial bombardment of Iranian sites, insisting that its objective is to eliminate any potential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iranian officials maintain that their programme remains strictly for civilian energy development, though international observers remain sceptical.
Efforts by Western governments to broker a ceasefire have so far failed to gain traction, as both Iran and Israel remain entrenched in their positions.
