斯里兰卡外交部表示，已协调相关力量，对在斯里兰卡东南海岸外国际海域遭遇不明医疗急症的40名伊朗船员进行救治并遣返回国。
Sri Lanka's foreign ministry says it has coordinated efforts to treat and repatriate 40 Iranian sailors suffering from unspecified medical emergencies in international waters off the island's southeastern coast.
外交部发言人图沙拉·罗德里戈对BBC僧伽罗语频道表示，他们于周六接到抵达斯里兰卡加勒港的伊朗船只发出的求救信号，“关于紧急医疗需求”。他说，此次救援行动由伊朗驻科伦坡大使馆策划。
Ministry spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo told BBC Sinhala they received a distress call on Saturday from Iranian ships arriving at Sri Lanka's Galle Harbour "regarding an urgent medical need". The rescue operation was planned by the Iranian Embassy in Colombo, he said.
由于美国海军封锁，伊朗船只被困在海上。斯里兰卡强调其在冲突中保持中立，但有时会向伊朗船员提供帮助，并称这是其依据国际法应尽的义务。
Iranian ships have been stranded at sea due to a US naval blockade. Sri Lanka stresses it is neutral in the conflict, but has at times offered help to Iranian sailors in what it says is an obligation to international law.
BBC僧伽罗语频道上月的一份报告发现，有21艘伊朗船只位于斯里兰卡附近的国际海域。
A BBC Sinhala report last month found that there were 21 Iranian vessels located in international waters near Sri Lanka.
罗德里戈说，获救的40名船员分属不同船只——尽管斯里兰卡当局掌握的信息不包括他们具体属于多少艘船。
The 40 rescued sailors served on different ships - though Sri Lankan authorities do not have information on how many ships they belonged to, Rodrigo said.
他补充说，船员们被带上岸并送往科伦坡接受医疗救治，于周六晚乘飞机被送回伊朗。他说，包括当地航运公司在内的多个机构参与了此次行动。
The sailors were brought ashore and taken to Colombo for medical treatment before being sent back to Iran by plane on Saturday night, he added. He said that several agencies were involved in the operation, including local shipping companies.
据罗德里戈称，基于国际法和人道主义理由，斯里兰卡有义务为医疗急症提供必要便利。
According to Rodrigo, Sri Lanka was obliged under international law and humanitarian grounds to provide the necessary facilities for medical emergencies.
“这并不意味着我们将向那些船只提供援助，”他说。“收到求救信号后予以响应，通常是国际通行的惯例。”
"This does not mean that we will provide assistance to those ships," he said. "It is generally an internationally accepted tradition to respond to a distress call after receiving it."
“我们以前处理过此类案件。这是一个持续实施的正常流程。”这场伊朗的持续冲突始于美国和以色列在2月对伊朗发动大规模打击。伊朗随即反击以色列、美国基地及海湾盟国，并实际上封锁了霍尔木兹海峡这一关键国际贸易航道。双方的袭击在谈判陷入僵局之际持续不断。
"We have dealt with such cases before. This is a normal process that continues to be implemented." The ongoing conflict in Iran started when the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on the country in February. Iran responded by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international trade route. Attacks by both sides have persisted as negotiations stalled.
斯里兰卡在冲突中寻求保持中立，拒绝了美国和伊朗的军事通道请求，并敦促双方优先对话。
Sri Lanka has sought to remain neutral in the conflict, having rejected military access requests from both the US and Iran and urged both parties to prioritise dialogue.
斯里兰卡还主张基于人道主义理由，向陷入冲突的伊朗船只提供援助。
It has also offered assistance to Iranian ships caught in the conflict on what it argues are humanitarian grounds.
3月，斯里兰卡当局表示，他们响应了伊朗“艾里斯·德纳”号（Iris Dena）的求救信号，该船在美国鱼雷袭击后沉没在斯里兰卡海岸附近。
In March, Sri Lankan authorities said they responded to a distress call from the Iranian ship the Iris Dena, which had sunk off its coast after a US torpedo attack.
袭击造成80多名船员死亡，受伤幸存者被送往加勒港的一家医院。
More than 80 crew members were killed in the attack, and injured survivors were taken to a hospital in the Galle Harbour.
次日，斯里兰卡当局允许另一艘伊朗海军舰艇停靠其港口之一，总统阿努拉·库马拉·迪萨纳亚克表示，他们将“绝不犹豫地保护人性”。
The following day, Sri Lankan authorities allowed another Iranian naval vessel to dock at one of its ports, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake saying that they would "never hesitate to protect humanity".
美联社报道，斯里兰卡当局本月早些时候表示，目前没有立即计划向其海岸附近报告面临粮食、水和燃料短缺的19艘伊朗船只提供援助。当局称，他们必须优先考虑国家利益。
Sri Lankan authorities said earlier this month they had no immediate plans to send aid to 19 Iranian ships near its coasts which had reported shortages of food, water and fuel. The authorities said they had to prioritise national interests, the Associated Press reported.