The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) is the nation’s principal maritime law enforcement authority, entrusted with safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime interests, ensuring safety at sea, and protecting the marine environment. Its establishment reflects Sri Lanka’s recognition of the strategic importance of effective maritime governance as an island nation located at the crossroads of major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

• Early Concept and Initial Establishment (1998–2002)

  The concept of establishing a dedicated Coast Guard was first introduced in 1998 to address the growing need for effective enforcement of fisheries laws at sea. At the time, the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, submitted a Cabinet paper proposing the formation of a Coast Guard.

  Following Cabinet approval, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard commenced operations under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. In 1999, seventy five personnel were recruited as officers, sergeants, and mariners, while construction of six small patrol vessels began at Neil Marine and Ceynor boatyards. On 01st August 2000, Lieutenant Commander C. R. Bulegoda Arachchi (Retired Sri Lanka Navy) was appointed as Head of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

  Basic training was conducted at SLNS Gemunu, Welisara with advanced professional training provided at the Japanese Coast Guard Training Centre in Tokyo.

  The newly constructed patrol vessels were launched at Beruwala Fisheries Harbour presided by then Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

  Coast Guard Vessel	Role/Responsibility
  CGV Mahiraja	Search and Rescue
  CGV Maya	Fisheries protection in Coastal areas
  CGV Ruhunu
  CGV Kadira	General Harbour Duties
  CGV Giruwaya
  CGV Maagama

  

  

  However, on 31st March 2002, a policy decision was made to abolish the Coast Guard, transferring its assets and personnel to the Coastal Conservation Department.

• Re-establishment and Legal Foundation (2008–2010)

  The increasing maritime security challenges and the need for a dedicated maritime force, limitations faced by existing agencies became evident. In response, His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Minister of Defence, presented a Cabinet paper on 03rd April 2008 to re-establish the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

  Parliament subsequently enacted the Department of Coast Guard Act No. 41 of 2009 on 09th July 2009, providing the legal framework for the Department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Under this Act, every Coast Guard officer is deemed a “Peace Officer” under the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979.

  Operational activities were officially inaugurated on 04th March 2010 in Galle, with Rear Admiral L. D. Dharmapriya RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc appointed as the first Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard. On the same day, Coast Guard Base Rohana was ceremonially opened by the presence of Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard at Mirissa.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rohana base

  

  

  

  

• Expansion of Operational Presence (2011–2017)

  The Northern Region Headquarters commenced operations on 05th May 2011 within SLNS Uththara, Kankesanthurai.

  In 2012, the Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project (CGTCP) was launched at Mirissa beach to protect sea turtles and promote conservation awareness among the community in Sri Lanka. Further, Coast Guard action plan includes providing information related to behavior of Turtles (Nesting, hatchlings, feeding and mating) to those who are conducting research on these endangered species.

  After the unsuccessful attempts by LTTE to infiltrate in to Colombo Harbour during the last phase of Elam war top brasses of military and government decided to declare a high security zone around the Colombo harbour in order to ensure the security of the economic lifeline of the country. Accordingly navy established several detachments/deployments in southern part of the Colombo and Naval Deployment Wellawaththa became the center of administration.

  Naval Deployment Colombo (South), Wellawatte, was handed over to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Director General, SLCG Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias RSP, VSV, USP, psc, Msc (DS), MNI (Lond) officially taken over the premises from Deputy Area Commander of Western Naval Area, Commodore Sarath Dissanayake RWP,USP at a charm ceremonial function held on 01st February 2012.Coast Guard Base Waruna, the Rear Headquarters, and the Western Regional Headquarters were subsequently established 23rd October 2012.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  The objective of producing skilled life servers for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Life Saving Training Center Balapitiya was inaugurated by Rear Admiral AARA Dias RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, MSc (DS), AFNI (Lond)on 23rd December 2012.

  

  

  

  

  Further ND Kirinda was officially handed over by Commander Southern Naval Area Rear Admiral KKVPH De Silva, WWV & Bar, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu to Sri Lanka Coast Guard and declared open as CGS Kirinda by the Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral RC Wijegunaratne WV, RWP & Bar, RSP, USP, ndc, psn, MPhil (D&SS), BSc (Hons)(WS)on 02nd April 2013.

  

  

  

  The Director General of the SLCG, Rear Admiral RC Wijegunaratne WV, RWP & Bar, RSP, USP, ndc, psn, MPhil (D&SS), BSc (Hons)(WS) declared open the newly constructed Advanced Training Center in Rohana, Mirissa on 16th September 2013.

  Coast Guard Diving Center under the Malima Hospitality Service was declared open inside CGS Kirinda on 04th April 2014.

  The Sri Lanka Coast Guard Operations Room was declared open Director General Indian Coast Guard Rajendra Singh on 17th August 2016, enhancing operational coordination of Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

  

  

  

  

  The Eastern Regional Headquarters commenced operations in 22nd December 2017 inside the Naval Dockyard.

• Fleet Development and International Cooperation (2017…..)

  On 05th September 2017, the Indian Coast Guard gifted the vessel Varuna to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation. The vessel was formally handed over by the Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Director General Rajendra Singh to the Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Samantha Wimalathunge RWP, VSV, USP, nswc, MS (DS)Mgt, MSc (NS & WS), MA(SSS).

  

  

  Ceremonially the first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) CG 60 was commissioned as SLCGS Suraksha at the Passenger Jetty at Port of Colombo on 21st October 2017. State Minister of Defence, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardane witnessed as the Chief Guest.

  

  

  Custom-built Fast Patrol Vessels with pollution prevention capabilities were delivered under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project, supported by the Government of Japan, Japan Coast Guard, and JICA on 02nd July 2018.

  

  

  The Sri Lanka Coast Guards’ first Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) CG 501 and CG 502 were commissioned as SLCGS Samudra Raksha and SLCGS Samaraksha in a magnificent sun-set ceremony with State Minister of Defence, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardane as the Chief Guest and many Officials from Japan Coast Guard, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Sri Lanka Navy witnessed the event . The ceremony took place at the East Container Terminal at Port of Colombo on 29th August 2018.

  

  

  From its inception to its modern re-establishment, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard has evolved into a vital maritime law enforcement institution. Through legal authority, operational expansion, capacity building, and international cooperation, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard continues to safeguard Sri Lanka’s maritime domain and contribute to regional maritime security.

  The Sri Lanka Navy officially handed over an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on 03rd January 2022 at the ceremony held at Galle harbour and allocated the pennant number CG 61. The occasion was graced by Rear Admiral GEWMAN Ekanayake RSP**, USP, psc, MSc (D&SS), MMaritimePol, Dip in IR, Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard (DG SLCG) officially taken over the ship from Rear Admiral WHVP Hewage WWV, RWP, RSP*, VSV, USP, Commander Southern Naval Area (CSNA).

  Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) CG 61 of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard received her commission from the Secretary, Ministry of Defence General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil Commissioning Ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee on 23rd July 2012.