History

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HISTORY OF SLCG

1998
  • After identifying the necessity of having a Coast Guard for Sri Lanka, then the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Honourable Mahinda Rajapaksa, submitted a cabinet paper to establish the institute. Having been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, SLCG commenced its activities under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

    • 1999
  • Seventy five personnel were recruited to SLCG as Officers, Sergeants and Mariners and construction of vessels for SLCG commenced at Neil Marine and Ceynor Boat yards.

    • 2000
  • Lieutenant Commander CR Bulegoda Arachchi, a retired Naval Officer was appointed as the Head of SLCG by a cabinet paper approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 01st August 2000.

    • 2001
  • The government then began drafting the Sri Lanka Coast Guard act based on the experiences of counterparts from other nations in the region. In the meantime basic training for Coast Guard personnel began at naval base Welisara (SLNS Gemunu) where professional training took place at Japanese Coast Guard Training Center in Tokyo.

  • Six small vessels for SLCG launched at Beruwala fishery harbour after a charming ceremony 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

    2002
  • Less than a year later on 31st march 2002, the incumbent elected government decided to abolish the department transferring the all assets and personnel to the Coastal Conservation Department.

    • 2009
  • After eradication of terrorism which protracted for three decades in Sri Lanka, then His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa being the Minister of Defense presented a cabinet paper to reestablish the Department of Sri Lanka coast Guard leading to enact the Coast Guard Act. No 41 of 2009 by the parliament on 09th July 2009 and formed the present department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard.



    • 2010
  • Operational activities of Sri Lanka Coast Guard were ceremonially inaugurated on 4th March 2010.Rear Admiral LD Dharmapriya RSP,VSV,USP.ndc,psc was appointed as first Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

  • Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rohana base was ceremonially opened by the Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral LD Dharmapriya RSP,VSV,USP.ndc,psc on 04th March 2010 at Mirissa.

    • 2011
  • Coast Guard Northern Head Region headquarters commenced its operations on 05th May 2011 and established inside the Navy base SLNS Uththara, Kankasanthurei.

  • SLCG Rohana Wardroom Declared open by Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral LD Dharmapriya RSP,VSV,USP.ndc,psc on 05th December 2011.


  • Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias RSP, VSV,USP,psc,Msc(DS), MNI (Lond)assumed duties as Director General of SLCG with effect from 07th December 2011.


    • 2012
  • Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project (CGTCP) was launched in September, with the objective of preserving the turtles, eggs and to raise the awareness of significance sea turtle conservation among the community in Sri Lanka. Further, Coast Guard action plan includes providing the information related to behavior of Turtles (Nesting, hatchlings, feeding and mating) to those who are conducting researches on these endangered species. The CGTCP is located at Mirissa beach (adjoining Coast Guard Station Rohana) which is considered as one of the most suitable locations for turtle nesting.


  • 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.

  • Subsequently with the successful eradication of LTTE, Naval Deployment Colombo (South), Wellawatta was handed over to Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Director General, SL Coast Guard 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. Then SLCG waruna and Rear Head Quarters of SLCG was declared open by the DGCG-SLCG on 23rd October 2012.


  • Director General SL Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias RSP, VSV,USP,psc,Msc(DS), MNI (Lond) declared open the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters, West and Coast Guard base SLCG Waruna at Modara harbour, Panadura on 23rd December 2012.

  • Coast Guard Station Oluvil was established close the Oluvil harbour 0n 02nd December 2012 with the intention to assist and support fishing community and to regulate fishing activities.

  • Sri Lanka Coast Guard Life Saving Training Center was declared open by Director General RAdm AARA Dias on 23rd December 2012, with the objective of producing skilled life servers for the Coast Guard.


    • 2013
  • Sailors accommodation at SLNS Uththara for the sailors attached to the Northern Region was declared open on 10th January 2013.

  • Rear Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne WV,RWP and bar ,RSP,USP,ndc,psn,Bsc,(Hons)WS,MNI assumed the office as new Director General of Coast Guard with effect from 08th January 2013.


  • ND Kirinda was officially handed over by Commander Southern Naval Area RAdm KKVPH De Silva to Sri Lanka Coast Guard and declared open as CGS Kirinda by Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard on 2nd April 2013.


  • On 01st September 2013 Fishing Marshelling duties and general Coast Guard duties commenced at Oluvil Harbour.

  • The Director General of the SLCG, Rear Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne WV,RWP and bar ,RSP,USP,ndc,psn,Bsc,(Hons) WS,MNI declared open the newly constructed Advanced Training Center in Rohana, Mirissa on 16th September 2013.


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

  • SLCG Waruna and Rear Head Quarters of SLCG re-established at Wellawatta. Coast Guard Head Quarters Officers accommodation declared open as latest addition to SLCG Rear Head Quarters, a fully pledged Officers' wardroom was ceremonially declared open adjacent to the existing wardroom on 11th May 2014.



  • The newly constructed Wardroom of the Coast Guard station Oluvil was ceremoniously declared open on 06th October under the Patronage of then Commander if the Navy VAdm SAMJ perera. The New Wardroom is expected to serve the Coast Guard officers who will be performing the Coast Guard operations in the eastern part of the country.




  • On 23rd July Rear Admiral SS Ranasinghe WWV,RWP,USP,ndc,psc,MSc (D&SS) assumed duties as Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard

    • 2015
  • Commodore DSSAP Samarasinghe, RWP,RSP,USP,psc,MSc(DS)mgt assumed the duties as Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard temporarily on 20th July 2015.


  • Rear Admiral GDAS Wimalathunge, PWP,VSV,USP,nswc,MSc(DS)mgt assumes duties as Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard with effect from 12th August 2015.


    • 2016
  • Sri Lanka Coast Guard Operations Room was declared open by Director General Indian Coast Guard Rajendra Singh on 17th August 2016.

    • 2017
  • Redesigned and renovated Officers’ accommodation of Sri Lanka Coast Guard ‘Waruna’ was declared open by Rear Admiral GDAS Wimalathunga, the Director General Coast Guard on 25th January 2017.


  • Sri Lanka Coast Guard Eastern Region starts its operations inside the Naval Dockyard in a newly built Regional headquarters on 22 December 2017.

  • The official handing over ceremony was held at Port of Kochi in India for gifting the Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Varuna’ to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on 05th September 2017. 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 at a ceremony.


  • The Sri Lanka Coast Guards’ first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) CG 60 was commissioned as SLCGS Suraksha in a glittering sun-set ceremony with State Minister of Defence, Hon. RuwanWijewardane as the Chief Guest. The ceremony took place at the Passenger Jetty at Port of Colombo on 21st October 2017.

    • 2018
  • The official delivering ceremony was held at Colombo Harbour for custom built Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV’s) specially designed with Pollution Prevention capabilities to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on 02nd July 2018. The vessels were built by Sumidagawa shipyard Company Limited, Japan under the supervision of Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and JICA for the project of Maritime Safety Capability Improvement.


  • 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. The ceremony took place at the East Container Terminal at Port of Colombo on 29th August 2018. Many Officials from Japan Coast Guard, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Sri Lanka Navy were participated for the event.

    • 2019
  • Sri Lanka Coast Guard annual two mile open sea swimming championship was commenced to the first time in history in 16th March 2019 at seas off Ambalangoda. This energetic championship was organized by Sri Lanka Coast Guard Life Saving Center. The event was attended more than 400 competitors from tri servicers, clubs, and schools. RAdm GDAS Wimalathunge graced the occasion as chief guest.


  • Working Level Meeting (WLM) of 15th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) held at Hilton Hotel Colombo from 08th July 11th July 2019 and SLCG Hosted the meeting. Representatives from 15th member countries one associated members and three observers participated and State Minister of Defense Hon. Ruwan Wijewardana graced the inaugural session as chief guest.

    • 2020
  • 2nd spell of Coast Guard annual two mile sea swimming championship was conducted at seas off LSTS Balapitiya with participation over 600 enthusiastic competitors from varies clubs, schools on 15rd February 2020.


  • Newly constructed junior sailors’ mess of CGS Kirinda was declared open on 04th August 2020 by Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard RAdm Samantha Wimalathunge

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