Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 14:07 IST Namal, the eldest son of former President and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the incident also highlights broader concerns about how major powers operate in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa. (X) In the wake of the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, which killed at least 87 people, Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa, described the attack as unethical and said its legality could be challenged. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on Saturday, Rajapaksa said the incident raises serious questions about international law, maritime norms, and the conduct of major powers in the Indian Ocean. Rajapaksa said, “The legality of it can certainly be debated,” adding that academics may argue over whether the action violated international law. However, he questioned whether the legal and humanitarian principles advocated globally are being applied consistently in today’s conflicts. “Academics can debate the legality of it. But the moral values, the ethics and the practices …