Navy apprehends 4 suspects for illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers in northern waters

The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended four (4) suspects and seized 9,000 illegally harvested sea cucumbers during a search operation in the Jaffna lagoon on 15 September 2026.

Naval personnel attached to the Naval Detachment Kalmunai Point of SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command intercepted 2 suspicious dinghies off Kalmunai Point in the Maniyanthottam area of Jaffna lagoon. Subsequent inspection of the dinghies led to the recovery of this large haul of sea cucumbers being transferred ashore.

The four suspects, aged between 34 and 44, were identified as residents of Kalpitiya, Anuradhapura, and Colombuthurai in Jaffna. The suspects, together with the sea cucumber consignment and dinghies, were handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office in Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.