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“International interventions are being made to protect the marine ecosystem” – Minister of Environment
The third Saturday of September is designated as International Coastal Cleanup Day.
In Sri Lanka, the third week of September has been declared “National Marine Resources Conservation Week” since 2016.
Due to increasing population and development activities, there is a risk of marine systems becoming polluted. The waste that flows from land into the sea also poses a threat to the destruction of sensitive marine ecosystems.
To combat this situation, the new government is implementing National Marine Resources Conservation Week as a positive solution for the preservation of coastal and marine environments. Accordingly, beach cleanup programs are being held in various districts across Sri Lanka throughout the week, starting today.
This year’s (2025) main inaugural ceremony was held today (September 20) at 8:00 a.m. at Panadura Beach Park, presided over by the Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi, and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Samantha Gunasekara, and its General Manager, Jagath Gunasekara, as well as officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, representatives from government and private institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
During the event, the Minister of Environment emphasized that “legal enforcement is being carried out internationally with the cooperation of other countries to protect Sri Lanka’s marine system. The fishing industry is being enriched to lead the country toward a productive economy while protecting the marine environment and coasts. The Ministry of Environment is working with state and international parties to find successful solutions to prevent marine pollution.”
During the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between MEPA and Clean Ocean Force for the “Beach Caretakers” program.
Programs on beach cleaning and waste census were also conducted.
The national marine conservation week will continue until September 26, covering all coastal districts of the island.
Over 70 selected beaches will host beach cleanup activities, seabed cleaning programs, and awareness programs, with the participation of over 5,000 volunteers.
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
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