New Delhi, March 6 -- Sri Lankan authorities on Friday said they had taken control of an Iranian ship and evacuated its crew, a day after it had sought an emergency docking request. The vessel, IRINS Bushehr, had sought permission to enter Sri Lankan waters on Wednesday, citing an engine failure.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday said the 208-member crew of the IRIS Bushehr will be disembarked at the Colombo Port, after which the vessel will be shifted to the northeastern Trincomalee Harbor.

Amid fears of the island nation getting dragged into the US-Iran war, Dissanayake said IRIS Bushehr was allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters on humanitarian grounds.

"We wanted to remain neutral while dealing with a humanitari...