JAPAN DELEGATES VISIT SLCGS SAMARAKSHA AND SLCGS SAMUDRARAKSHA

Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) is the premier maritime law enforcement force functions under the Ministry of Defence. SLCG acts as a first responder to oil spill response and management in Sri Lanka.

02 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) were donated by Japan to Sri Lanka Coast Guard in 2018 under Official Development Assistance (ODA) Grant Aid scheme aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka Coast Guard security capabilities.

As these circumstances Japan delegations visited these 02 oil spill response ships on 02^nd September 2023. This event was spearheaded by Deputy Director General of SLCG, Commodore LN Hewavitharana and the event was attended by Mr. Nakanishi Yusuke (Member of House of Councillors), Ms. Imai Erico (Member of House of Councillors), Mr. Ozawa Masahito (Member of House of Councillors), JICA representative Mr. Yamada Tetsuya (Chief Representative) and a team of Japanese officials.

The delegations are responsible to report the evaluation of SLCGS Samaraksha and SLCGS Samudraraksha on completion of their visit. The outcome of this visit affects the amount of their ODA budget allocated for Sri Lanka in the future.