COLOMBO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar on Thursday urged local fishermen to avoid sea areas beyond Sri Lanka's maritime borders, citing the current situation in international waters.

Speaking in Parliament, Chandrasekar said the government has a responsibility to ensure fishermen's safety. He made the remarks while referring to reports that an Iranian warship was sunk after a U.S. submarine attack and to another Iranian vessel that lawmakers said is currently positioned in waters off Sri Lanka.

Separately, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said he spoke with his Iranian counterpart on Wednesday as the situation in the Middle East evolved rapidly.

Herath said Sri Lanka conveyed "grave concern" over escalating hostilities and reaffirmed that diplomatic dialogue remains the path to restoring peace in the region. ■