SRI LANKA COAST GUARD CELEBRATES 9TH ANNIVERSARY

Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) celebrated its 9th Anniversary on Monday (04th March). The Coast Guard Act No. 41 of 2009 was enacted by the Parliament on 09th July 2009 to incorporate the Department of Coast Guard. Its operational activities were ceremonially inaugurated on 4th March 2010.

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard functions under the Ministry of Defence. It is a law enforcement agency at sea. SLCG has been empowered with legal authority to search and arrest ships, craft and personnel engaged in illegal activities in maritime zones of Sri Lanka and constitute legal proceedings against the offenders.

SLCG is a multi-mission Law Enforcement Service established to ensure Safety, Security and the Serenity of the Coastal areas territorial waters and Maritime zones of Sri Lanka whilst enforcing law at sea. Sri Lanka Coast Guard is further committed towards the sustainable management and development of marine resources. It is also in the forefront in marine pollution control and SLCG has been developing its capacity and capability to respond oil spill incidents in Maritime Zones of Sri Lanka with the help of regional and international co-operations. SLCG Oil Spill response team has been responding successfully to the Oil Spill Incidents since 2016.

In addition, the Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project (CGTCP) was launched in 2012, with the purpose of preserving and raising the awareness of sea turtle conservation in Sri Lanka and provides information on turtle behavior to those who are conducting researches on these endangered species. Approx 7000 baby Turtles release per year from SLCG Turtle Conservation Stations around the country.

Further, the Green Belt Project has been conducted to address the issue of coastal erosion by planting thousands of various kinds of plants near the beach areas which helps to protect coastal area and will create fresh and clean coastal belt. Beach cleaning is conducting every day as a routine work close to SLCG bases, station and sub stations and in addition, SLCG arrange beach cleaning programmes with the support of various organisations, whenever such occasion is permitted to maintain cleaner beaches around the country.

Moreover, SLCG has established Life Saving Posts around the coastal belt of the country to prevent human deaths from drowning incidents and as at today 1243 no’s of local and foreigners lives have been saved by the SLCG life savers.

Several events such as Sport Activities, Commanding Officers Divisions, Badakana, Beach Cleaning Programs, and Hospital Cleaning/ Sramadana Program were organized in view of its 09th Anniversary Celebration at SLCG Head Quarters in Mirissa and Rear Head Quarters, Wellawatta.