The narcotics seized from a multi-day fishing vessel intercepted in Sri Lanka’s southern waters earlier this week have an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 1.5 billion, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara.
Addressing the media today (13), the Deputy Minister said approximately 110 kilograms of suspected heroin and ICE narcotics were discovered aboard the fishing vessel, which had departed from Mirissa.
He said five suspects were arrested along with the vessel during the Navy’s operation.
According to the Deputy Minister, the seized narcotics include between 52 and 60 kilograms of heroin and more than 50 kilograms of ICE narcotics.
The fishing vessel, identified as ‘Yasiru Putha’, was intercepted on November 11 and subsequently brought to the Galle Harbour for further investigations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Jayasekara revealed that the Navy had seized narcotics worth over Rs. 17 billion during operations conducted over the past one and a half months.
He said these included operations in Thalalla in Matara, Dickowita and Madagal in Jaffna, during which 417 kilograms of heroin and 414 kilograms of ICE were seized.
The Deputy Minister further revealed that since the launch of the government’s drug eradication programme in October last year, the Navy alone had seized narcotics with an estimated street value of Rs. 117 billion.
He added that narcotics worth over Rs. 73 billion had been seized through Navy operations during 2026 alone, excluding the latest seizure. (Newswire)
Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced in Parliament today (November 13) that the government has allocated Rs. [...]
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the government will continue implementing national education reforms despite opposition, backed by increased [...]
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, under the 2027 Budget proposed a Rs. 25,000 increase in the monthly academic allowance for university [...]
Under the 2027 Budget, the government has proposed removing Value Added Tax (VAT) on school exercise books, textbooks, and several [...]
Courtyard by Marriott Colombo welcomed the festive season with its traditional Christmas Cake Mixing Ceremony, held on 22 October 2026 at the hotel lobby. The celebration brought together the hotel [...]
Nüwa at City of Dreams Sri Lanka ushered in the festive season with its inaugural Christmas Cake Mixing Ceremony, bringing together the warmth of cherished festive traditions and the distinctive [...]
The aroma of kebabs on the grill, the delicate layers of freshly prepared börek and a table filled with mezze: this October, Shangri-La Colombo invites diners to discover Türkiye through [...]
© 2026 Wire Digital. All Rights Reserved.
Loading comments…