Sri Lanka Coast Guard

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was established under the Department of Coast Guard Act No. 41 of 2009. Serves as the premier maritime law enforcement and marine environment protection agency of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka positioned along one of the busiest maritime trade corridors in the Indian Ocean, the risks of marine pollution, especially Oil and Hazardous and Noxious substance (HNS) spills, have steadily increased. As the designated first responder under the national contingency framework, SLCG is committed to protecting the marine environment, safeguarding coastal ecosystems and ensuring the safety of coastal communities and maritime industries.

Through continual capacity building, acquisition of modern equipment, strategic partnerships and ongoing operational readiness SLCG stands ready to respond swiftly and effectively to oil spill emergencies, uphold maritime safety and security and preserve Sri Lanka’s marine heritage for future generations.

History of Oil Spill Response in Sri Lanka

SLCG formally commenced oil-spill response operations on 23rd August 2012, triggered by a spill after the sinking of the cargo vessel MV Thermopylae Sierra near Colombo harbor, an incident that threatened a 50 km stretch of coastline, including popular coastal resorts.

Since then, SLCG has evolved from ad-hoc responses to a structured, national first responder organization under the National Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP / NOHSCP), coordinating with governmental agencies, port authorities and private stakeholders to prevent and mitigate marine pollution.

Over the years, SLCG’s mandate has expanded beyond localized harbour spills to encompass coastal and offshore zone coverage, inland water pollution control, reflecting the growing complexity of maritime and waterway risks in a dynamic maritime environment.

This evolution reflects a growing recognition of the environmental, ecological and socio-economic risks posed by marine pollution and SLCG’s central role in national environmental stewardship and maritime safety.

Capabilities and Readiness

SLCG maintains a comprehensive oil-spill response readiness framework, combining human capacity, equipment, coordination mechanisms and strategic deployment of resources and the following key elements include :-

Dedicated Response Teams : SLCG maintains permanent, highly trained Oil Spill Response Teams (OSRT), organized under four regional commands covering the Western, Southern, Eastern, and Northern maritime zones of Sri Lanka. These teams ensure rapid, well-coordinated response capabilities for any marine pollution incident within their respective areas.
First Responder Role under NOSCOP/NOHSC : As per national contingency protocols, the SLCG is the designated first responder for oil and HNS spills at sea and along coastal areas. The SLCG maintains 24x7 readiness to mobilize, deploy containment and recovery equipment, conduct surveillance, and coordinate with relevant national authorities.
Specialized Vessels and Equipment : SLCG operates specialized patrol vessels equipped for oil spill response, notably SLCGS Samudraraksha and SLCGS Samaraksha, both capable of rapid deployment for offshore operations. In addition, the SLCG maintains a dedicated equipment warehouse at CGS Dikovita for storing and dispatching containment booms, skimmers, absorbents, and other essential response gear.
Surveillance, Monitoring and Incident Management : SLCG’s role includes continuous surveillance of oil slicks, early detection of emerging spills, prediction of spill movement, and providing decision support for containment and cleanup operations. To achieve this, the SLCG may deploy aerial and maritime monitoring resources, utilize modeling and forecasting tools, and operate shore-based coordination systems to ensure an effective and timely response.
Coordination with National and International Agencies : Under NOSCOP and NOHSC, the SLCG works closely with key national authorities such as the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Sri Lanka Navy, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC/ Ceypetco) and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL). In addition, the SLCG collaborates with private sector stakeholders including South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), and Colombo West International Container Terminals (CWIT). These partnerships ensure that oil spill response efforts are well-coordinated, timely, and effective, leveraging both national and international support mechanisms.

Training and Capacity Building

Recognizing that effective response depends on well trained personnel and institutional maturity, SLCG invests substantially in ongoing capacity building.

International Cooperation
- Training with Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 17th February 2023, a group of 34 SLCG personnel underwent onshore training at ATC Kirinda and offshore drills at Dikovita, conducted by Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) experts.
- On 20th to 25th May 2024, 25 SLCG officers (16 officers, 9 sailors) successfully completed an advanced oil spill-incident management course at the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center (MDPC), Yokosuka, marking their accreditation as official oil spill incident management instructors.
Regional and Multilateral Training & Workshops
- SLCG organizes and participates in national and international workshops to strengthen interagency coordination, incident command systems and response readiness. For example in 06th June 2022, SLCG facilitated a workshop and exercise on oil spill response and environmental security in collaboration with the US Indo Pacific Command and the US Embassy in Colombo.
- In January 2025, SLCG officers completed IMO Level 1 & 2 training under a joint programme with agencies from the Maldives, supported by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), enhancing regional cooperation on marine pollution response.
Regular Simulation Exercises
- SLCG conducts realistic oil spill response drills to test and improve readiness. On 30th October 2024, more than 100 personnel including Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), Sri Lanka Navy, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCRD), Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) and private sector stakeholders including Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC), Prima Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd and Tokyo Cement company (Lanka) PLC took part in a large scale exercise at Ashroff Jetty, Trincomalee, demonstrating boom deployment, skimmer operations and collaborative cleanup.
- On 28th February 2025, SLCG again led a three-day training and simulation exercise at Trincomalee Harbour involving 21 participants from key local organisations Including Sri Lanka Navy, Indian Oil Corporation– Trincomalee, Prima Ceylon Limited–Trincomalee, Trincomalee Port Authority and Tokyo Eastern Cement Company (PVT) Ltd.
- These capacity-building efforts ensure that SLCG maintains a core of trained, experienced personnel, capable of leading oil spill response and instructing others, thereby institutionalizing spill response readiness across Sri Lanka’s maritime sector.

Equipment and Technological Advancements

Recognizing the need for modern, efficient spill response equipment, SLCG has expanded its assets and adopted advanced technologies, which is possible through international cooperation.

Under a technical cooperation project initiated by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2022, SLCG has strengthened its in house oil-spill response training system, ensured maintenance and availability of response equipment and continues capacity building efforts.

Two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV), SLCGS Samudraraksha and SLCGS Samaraksha specially designed and built in Japan, were handed over to SLCG tailored for Oil spill response and maritime safety operations, enhancing offshore response reach and efficiency.

SLCG’s spill response inventory includes containment booms, absorbents, skimmers, dispersant application systems and shoreline cleanup materials. These allow for containment, recovery and mitigation operations both at sea and along coastlines.

By maintaining a central warehousing and logistics hub at Dikovita, SLCG ensures rapid mobilization and deployment of equipment across the country’s maritime zones to respond to spills even in remote areas.

Through continued acquisition, maintenance and training, SLCG ensures that its human and material resources remain aligned with international best practices in oil-spill response and marine environmental protection.

Notable Oil Spill Response Operations

Over the years, SLCG has responded to a range of oil spill events from minor harbour leaks to major tanker emergencies. Demonstrating its operational readiness and commitment to marine protection. Some of the most important include the following :-

MT New Diamond (2020) In response to a major crude oil tanker disaster off the coast, SLCG coordinated with national and international partners to mitigate the risk of a large-scale oil spill.
MV X-Press Pearl Disaster (2021) Following this major container ship fire and sinking near the west coast, SLCG played a critical role in mitigating environmental damage from hazardous chemical and oil spills.
Nilwala River Spill (2016) SLCG responded to an oil leak from a filling station in Akuressa, Matara, controlling contamination reaching water intake points supplying drinking water.
Kolonnawa Furnace Oil Spill (2018) On 16th January 2018, the SLCG Oil Spill Response Management Team was mobilized to contain a furnace oil spill at Kolonnawa, at the request of the relevant petroleum storage authority. Cleanup teams worked under the NOSCOP framework, highlighting the Coast Guard’s role in inland water and near-shore spill incidents.
Muthurajawela Spill (2018) Containment and cleanup operations prevented significant ecological damage to the sensitive coastal area from Dikovita to the Uswetakeiyawa area.
Galle Harbour Yacht Spill (2025) On 19th January 2025, a partial submersion of a yacht SI Nostimo at Galle’s Closenburg Pier caused an oil-spill. The SLCG Marine Spill Response Team (MSRT), deploying a skimmer and containment booms, recovered around 650 litres of polluted oil within a single day, preventing wider environmental damage.
Oil spill in Maduru Oya Reservoir (2025). Crash of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter on 09th May 2025. SLCG immediately deployed pollution control teams with containment booms and oil absorbent materials to prevent the spill from spreading further and reduce its environmental impact.

These operations demonstrate that SLCG is not just theoretically prepared, but actively engaged and capable of mounting swift, effective responses, protecting Sri Lanka’s marine environment in diverse and challenging situations.

Commitment to a Cleaner and Safer Marine Environment

SLCG’s oil spill response activities go beyond emergency reaction. They reflect a long term commitment to marine environmental protection, public safety and sustainable maritime development.

As the first responder under NOSCOP, SLCG ensures that oil and HNS spill risks, whether from shipping traffic, port operations or accidental leaks are addressed promptly and professionally, minimizing environmental harm and protecting coastal livelihoods. Through regular capacity building training and institutional strengthening with international partners such as Japan Coast Guard (JCG), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard.

SLCG fosters national and regional cooperation among governmental agencies, private sector stakeholders and international partners, recognizing that effective marine environment protection is a shared responsibility.

Through regular exercises, stakeholder workshops and public-private coordination, SLCG is building awareness, strengthening interagency synergy and enhancing preparedness, which ultimately contributes to long term ecological protection, maritime safety and sustainable development.