Illegal drug trafficking in Sri Lanka is on the rise. Heroin and cannabis are the most common drugs seized in the country with 80 percent of these drugs finding their way via the sea route, Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias said.

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) has a vital role to play in preventing these illegal drugs from coming into the country, he said.

Prevention of trans-boundary movement of narcotics is one of the main responsibilities of the SLCG.

Prevention of illegal fishing, human trafficking and piracy are the other main responsibilities, he said. The SLCG was established in 2009 by Coast Guard Act No 41 of 2009 according to a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Since then it has been entrusted with a number of responsibilities such as law enforcement in the coastal areas, territorial waters and maritime zones of Sri Lanka and high seas, providing assistance to the Customs and other authorities in counter smuggling operations and border management, cooperating with law enforcement agencies and Armed Forces by taking measures for the suppression of terrorist in maritime zones, he said