- Another multi-day trawler nabbed off Devundara
- 123 kg of heroin worth Rs. 3 b seized, 5 arrested
- Trawler seized off Beruwala with 250 kg coke worth Rs. 1 b, 6 arrested
Sri Lanka Navy intercepted two more vessels carrying narcotics in the southern seas within a two-week period as part of the ongoing national anti-drug drive, bringing the total number of drug-laden boats seized during that time to five.
Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara told the media yesterday (16) that a multi-day fishing vessel was apprehended south of Devundara, carrying nearly 123 kilograms (kg) of heroin. The consignment is estimated to have a street value of over Rs. 3 billion. The vessel was brought to the Dikkowita Harbour last morning, where officials from the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) conducted inspections and confirmed the seized substance was heroin. According to officials, the Navy intercepted the first vessel on 15 March in the waters south of Dondra during an operation carried out by the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Squadron. During the operation, Naval personnel recovered six sacks of narcotics from the boat, containing 123 packets of heroin weighing 123 kg. Five suspects aboard the vessel were initially detained by the Navy and later formally arrested by the PNB after the vessel arrived at the Dikkowita Harbour.
He also revealed the Navy had intercepted another multi-day fishing vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the waters off Beruwala yesterday. Six suspects have been arrested with regard to the same. The Navy revealed the multi-day fishing trawler intercepted in the sea area off Beruwala and brought to the Dikkowita Harbour yesterday was discovered to be carrying nearly 250 kg of cocaine worth over Rs. one billion. Six fishermen onboard the fishing trawler were also taken into custody during the operation, the authorities said.
Last week saw one of the largest drug busts of the year in the southern seas. Earlier last week, the Navy intercepted three multi-day fishing trawlers involved in drug trafficking in the southern seas. With this latest seizure, a total of seven multi-day fishing trawlers used for drug trafficking have been intercepted by the Navy so far this year (2026).
When queried about the source of the drugs entering Sri Lanka, Navy Media Spokesperson, Commander Buddhika Sampath said that investigations into the origin are complex and prolonged, and that it has not yet been identified. He added that further details would be released once inspections are completed.
Amid ongoing Naval operations to intercept narcotics in the southern seas, concerns have been raised by the public regarding an initiative announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in November 2025, proposing a legal framework to be enacted for the immediate destruction of drugs at the point of seizure. However, when contacted by The Daily Morning, Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler clarified the relevant legal framework has not yet been enacted in Parliament and the authorities have not been instructed to proceed with such destruction at this time.