The Sri Lanka Navy took hold of 02 dinghies loaded with over 557kg of smuggled Kendu leaves, during a search conducted in the Negombo lagoon on 18th July 2023.

Special operations conducted by the Navy off Kadaikadu, Nagar Kovil and Chundikulam in Jaffna on 16th and 17th July 2023, led to the apprehension of 16 persons who were engaging in illegal fishing activities. During these operations, the Navy also held 04 dinghies, diving equipment and fishing gear used for these illegal acts.

The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 02 suspects who were smuggling about 530kg (wet weight) Kendu leaves, during a special operation conducted off Periya Arichchal Island, Kalpitiya in the dark hours of 14th July 2023. The operation also led to the seizure of a dinghy used for this illegal act.

A coordinated operation conducted by the Navy and Kandana Police apprehended a suspect with 300 Pregabalin capsules (150 mg) at Kerawalapitiya Power Plant on 13th July 2023. The suspect was nabbed when he was peddling the controlled drugs by illegal means.

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully dismantled a smuggling racket in the wee hours of today (12th July 2023), seizing about 08kg and 450g of gold, attempted to be smuggled via sea, during a special operation mounted in Wannimundalama lagoon area, Kalpitiya. The operation also led to the apprehension of 02 suspects and a dinghy used for this illegal act.

The Sri Lanka Navy today (11th July 2023) rendered assistance to bring ashore a fisherman with burn injuries, sustained following an accident, while aboard a local multiday fishing trawler. The fisherman has experienced this unfortunate incident while at sea approximately 431 nautical miles (about 798km) off the coast of Galle, southwestern of Sri Lanka.

The Navy apprehended 12 individuals on 07th and 08th July 2023 off Chalei and Chundikulam in Jaffna and Illuppukadawai in Mannar, while they were engaging in illegal fishing activities. During these special operations, the Navy also held 1870 illegally harvested sea cucumbers, unauthorized fishing gear and 04 dinghies used for these illegal acts.

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters in the dark hours of 08th July 2023. The operation led to the apprehension of 02 Indian trawlers with 15 Indian nationals poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna.

The barge ‘Atulya’, towed by tug ‘Avadh’, en route from Maldives to India drifted to the Nadukuda coast in Mannar south, northwest of Sri Lanka, on the evening of 07th July 2023. The tug consists of nine (09) crew members who are Indian and Indonesian nationals. Meanwhile, necessary measures to get things back on track as per the procedure are currently being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo at the Navy Headquarters.

Special search operations carried out by the Navy in the lagoon of Allappiddi, Kayts and beach area of Maniyanthottam, Ariyalai led to the recovery of 65 Water Gel sticks – a type of commercial explosive, 18 non electric detonators and 155cm long safety fuse on 04th and 05th July 2023.