The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 [3.28 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, today we discuss amendments to the Judicature Act and the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to prohibit dangerous drug trafficking on the high seas.

¶ 03 A previous speaker alleged that NPP MPs from Puttalam maintain links with offenders. We categorically deny this. Provide us credible information; earlier, when two names were indicated, the Ministry of Public Security acted. Accurate information is essential.

¶ 04 These offences occur on the high seas, beyond our Exclusive Economic Zone. We must safeguard maritime security to protect national security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Intelligence shows large-scale manufacture, transport, distribution, trafficking, import and export in the high seas.

¶ 05 The Navy, together with the Police Narcotics Bureau, has conducted many operations. The Navy’s authority arises under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act; the Coast Conservation Department under the Coast Conservation Act. Within our EEZ, the Navy coordinates with other countries’ anti-narcotics forces for operations and seizures.

¶ 06 Often multi-day fishing trawlers ostensibly go for fishing but engage in transport and exchange of narcotics. International traffickers coordinate with local organized criminals and fishermen. With international cooperation, our Navy has executed successful operations. From 2019 to 2025, 29 multi-day trawlers and over 450 small craft involved were seized, along with large quantities of pills, hashish, heroin, and Kerala ganja. Due to gaps in current laws, swift and strong penalties are difficult; these amendments will enable firm prosecution.

¶ 07 The Indian Ocean sea lanes are busy; maritime security is a priority for our national economy and security, intertwined with regional security. Reports indicate opium-derived drugs from West Asia moving into our southern seas. We have caught numerous cases along the southern, northern (Mannar, Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, Mullaitivu), and western coasts (Kalpitiya to Negombo).

¶ 08 Traffickers exploit the “fishing” cover. Many seized trawlers are operated under powers of attorney given by absentee owners, complicating action against real owners. Another issue: Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) required on multi-day boats are switched off beyond the EEZ, evading our radar and allowing rendezvous with foreign traffickers. These amendments will facilitate interdiction as they re-enter our waters and strengthen deterrence.

¶ 09 In some seized trawlers, no fishing gear is onboard; suspects even admit to drug trafficking, yet legal tools are inadequate, leading to releases and recidivism. Therefore, under the President’s “Rata Ma Ekata” national mission, aligned with our NPP policy, we are intensifying operations. By March, we will introduce procedures to destroy seized drugs promptly post-certification—bringing magistrates and Government Analysts to witness sampling so the remainder can be destroyed swiftly—complementing these legal reforms.

¶ 10 Thank you.