India, April 16 -- Over 230 sailors of two Iranian Naval vessels distressed in Sri Lanka after a US submarine attack and engine failure, respectively, have been repatriated, defence officials said.

A total of 238 sailors were sent back on board a Turkish Airliner late on Tuesday night.

On March 4, Iran's naval ship 'Iris Dena' was attacked by the US, killing 84 on board outside Sri Lanka's international waters. As many as 32 others were rescued by Sri Lanka. Then three days later, Iran's second ship, 'Iris Bushehr' was allowed into Sri Lanka waters after it reported an engine failure. Over 200 on board the second ship were accommodated at Welisara, a Naval facility outside Colombo. The 238 repatriated on Tuesday were sailors from both s...