Sri Lanka said it was trying to “safeguard lives” on a second Iranian ship off its coast on ‌Thursday, a day after 87 people were killed in a US submarine strike on an Iranian warship in the same region.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesman told parliament that Colombo was aware that there was another Iranian ship in Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone outside its ​maritime boundary and it was “addressing the situation”.

The cabinet spokesman was responding to questions from an opposition leader on whether ​the government was aware that another Iranian ship was near the port of Colombo.

“The President, defence officials, ⁠and all other relevant officials are aware and we are addressing the situation,” spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. “We are doing our utmost to safeguard ​lives.”

He did not say whether the ship was a military vessel or not.