Iran has repatriated 240 sailors who had been under Sri Lanka’s care following last month’s naval incident.

Sri Lankan authorities facilitated the departure of the group, which included survivors from the IRIS Dena and crew members of the IRIS Bushehr, arranging a special flight for their return home.

The repatriation follows the sinking of the IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast during the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Thirty-two sailors were rescued, while dozens were reported dead.

Sri Lanka had been hosting more than 200 Iranian naval personnel on humanitarian grounds, in line with international maritime obligations, before coordinating their safe return to Iran.

Oil prices fell for a second consecutive day on Wednesday amid expectations that peace talks between the United States and Iran may resume, potentially easing supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures dropped 52 cents, or 0.55%, to $94.27 a barrel, after declining 4.6% in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.04, or 1.1%, to $90.24, following a sharp 7.9% drop a day earlier.

Market sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that talks to end the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran could resume in Pakistan within the next two days. The possibility of renewed negotiations has raised hopes of restoring oil and fuel flows from the Middle East.

The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. Although a two-week ceasefire is in place, shipping activity remains significantly below normal levels.

Despite diplomatic signals, uncertainty persists on the ground. A U.S. naval vessel reportedly stopped two oil tankers from leaving Iran on Tuesday, highlighting continued tensions in the region.

Analysts say the market remains cautious. “While diplomatic developments point to possible progress, the actual supply situation remains uncertain,” the Schork Group noted, adding that prices continue to reflect risks of ongoing disruptions rather than a full recovery in supply.

Further pressure on supply expectations comes as the U.S. is set to allow certain sanctions waivers on Iranian and Russian oil to expire, potentially limiting additional supply to global markets.

Investors are also closely watching upcoming U.S. inventory data, with early estimates suggesting a rise in crude stockpiles alongside declines in gasoline and distillate inventories.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is participating in the official state ceremony for the traditional oil-anointing ritual of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Kandy.

In accordance with New Year customs and auspicious timings, the ceremony is being held at 6:55 a.m.

At the prescribed time, the public is encouraged to wear green attire, face east, place neem (kohomba) leaves on their heads, stand on kolon leaves, and bathe after applying a mixture of neem extract and oil.

The state ceremony is taking place at the Sri Maha Natha Devalaya within the premises of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

The event is being conducted under the guidance of the chief prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters, with a large number of participants in attendance.

Showers or thundershowers are expected at several locations in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-Western and Uva provinces, as well as in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts after 1.00 p.m., the Department of Meteorology said.

Morning showers are also likely in parts of the Southern Province and in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Monaragala districts.

Fairly heavy rainfall of around 75 mm is expected in some areas of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, along with Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Meanwhile, mainly dry weather will prevail in other parts of the island.

Misty conditions are expected during the early morning in parts of the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces, as well as in Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts.

The public has been advised to take precautions against temporary localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

Meanwhile, the Department noted that due to the northward movement of the sun, it will be directly overhead Sri Lanka between April 5 and 15. Today (12), the sun is expected to be directly overhead areas including Cheddikulam, Kebithigollewa, Gomarankadawala and Nilaveli at around 12.11 p.m.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran have paused for now following a series of talks held in Islamabad, Iran’s government said early Sunday, after discussions aimed at ending the six-week conflict between the two countries.

The meetings marked the first direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in more than a decade and the highest-level talks since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

According to Iranian authorities, the discussions lasted around 14 hours, after which both sides agreed to exchange documents through technical experts. “Negotiations will continue despite some remaining differences,” a government statement said, without specifying when talks would resume.

The outcome of the negotiations is seen as critical to the fate of the fragile two-week ceasefire and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—a key global energy route that handles about 20% of the world’s oil trade and has been blocked since the conflict began.

The war has significantly disrupted global energy markets, driving up oil prices and increasing economic uncertainty worldwide.

Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, met with Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi during the talks, according to sources. The U.S. administration has yet to issue an official statement on the outcome.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military said it is preparing conditions to secure the waterway, including mine-clearing efforts, while Iran has denied reports of U.S. naval movements through the strait.

Key sticking points in the negotiations reportedly include Iran’s demands for the release of frozen assets, control and transit rights in the Strait of Hormuz, and broader ceasefire arrangements across the region. The United States, in contrast, is seeking to ensure free passage for global shipping and limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Despite the temporary halt in talks, both sides have signalled a willingness to continue negotiations, though mutual distrust remains a significant obstacle.