SRI LANKA COAST GUARD SEIZES OVER 1.5 TONNES OF KENDU LEAVES IN CHILAW

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), in a joint operation conducted with the Sri Lanka Police, apprehended two individuals and seized 42 sacks of Kendu leaves weighing approximately 1,597.2 kg, suspected to have been smuggled into Sri Lanka from India by sea.

The operation was carried out on 12^th November 2026, at around 2045 hrs, at the Thalwila beach area in Chilaw, following information received by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

The operation involved personnel from the Thoduwawa Sub-Unit and CG 205 patrol craft of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, together with personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy's Expeditionary Task Force and Marines, as well as officers from the Thoduwawa Police Station.

During the operation, the officers also seized a lorry and a dinghy boat allegedly used in connection with the smuggling activity.

The apprehended individuals and seized items were handed over to the Thoduwawa Police Station at around 0200 hrs on 13 November 2026. The Thoduwawa Police are expected to hand them over to the Excise Special Raids Unit, Biyagama, for further legal proceedings.

Over the past two years, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard has seized more than 30 tonnes of Kendu leaves through its operations against maritime smuggling activities.