SL a perfect location to run global programme on Maritime Crime: Sagala

18 June 2018 01:50 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka, especially with its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, was perfect to run a global programme on maritime crime, project management, Southern Development Minister and Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka said.

Addressing United Nations Security Council Open Arria Formula meeting in New York under the theme of 'Maritime Crime as a Threat to International Peace and Security', Minister Ratnayaka said the Lankan Government was delighted with the decision of the Global Maritime Crime Programme of UNODC to relocate the Head of the Programme and his expert team to Sri Lanka, to run global programming across the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean and Caribbean from offices in Colombo.

"The 'Colombo Declaration' and the Southern Route Partnership were identified as the primary mechanisms to counter narcotics trafficking in the Indian Ocean, at the Ministerial Meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in April 2018. Sri Lanka remains committed to the “Colombo Declaration” and will continue to provide political and regional support in international fora, as I am doing today" Ratnayaka said, addressing the high-profile UN meeting.

He said the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau with the support of Sri Lanka Customs seized over 1, 700kg of Cocaine in major seizures in 2016 and 2017.

"This included a seizure of 928kg of Cocaine from an Indian bound merchant vessel, MV Fabiola when it docked at the Colombo Port on 9 December 2016. This haul is the largest Cocaine seizure recorded in South Asia with an estimated street value of Sri Lankan Rupees 12 billion, around USD 77 million. In April 2016, the Police Narcotics Bureau and Sri Lanka Navy in a Joint Maritime Operation seized 101kg of Heroin on a dhow off the Southern coast of Sri Lanka," he explained.

"There have been reports that drug dhows have travelled eastwards towards Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as recently as February 2018, and due to legal and jurisdictional inhibitions, sharing of such information with affected States was constrained. Just two weeks ago, on 31 May 2018, a dhow ran aground off Innafinolhu Island in the northern part of the Maldivian archipelago, laden with 115kgs of drugs," the Minister also added.

"We are experiencing a massive explosion of drug trafficking by maritime routes. The use of the Indian Ocean as a major drug trafficking highway – particularly for Heroin originating in Afghanistan – poses a maritime security and a maritime law enforcement challenge," he said adding that one of the major challenges was the lack of a ‘legal finish’ (such as prosecution) for the majority of drug seizures made within international waters in the Indian Ocean region. (TK)

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Comments - 12

SL Monday, 18 June 2018 02:10 AM

Yeah; one word AventGuard!

Mendis Monday, 18 June 2018 03:03 AM

It is great Sri Lanka is to be based by international experts to conduct anti narcotics and anti piracy maritime operations.Gone are the days a Sri Lankan senior police officer joined the disfunctional Interpol and boasted himself as a international narcotics expert.

Manel Monday, 18 June 2018 03:56 AM

Sri Lanka is also an ideal location to study political crimes such as robbing tsunami aid, selling valuable lands in the capital city to gain commissions, murdering of dissenting journalists, one whole robbing the wealth of poor citizens and last but not least robbing the main financial institution, the central bank.

Hiran Monday, 18 June 2018 04:40 AM

Why not also Global Programs on political crime, bribery and corruption of the State, Nepotism and funding of politicians by crime bosses?

Hari Mani Monday, 18 June 2018 04:56 AM

Under your governance its ideal to run any crime, anywhere either locally or internationally. Some of us who invested in Srilanka came to know that. Its land where crime go unpunished, police turning a blind eye and judicial system that prolong the agony by hearing the cases for 10 min and then postponing them to the next hearing.

Unchikun Monday, 18 June 2018 05:00 AM

Ha Ha Na. Sri Lanka can be a center for teaching inland corruption and how the safeguard the corrupt.

Prabath Monday, 18 June 2018 07:15 AM

Well we had the worlds biggest private maritime security provider here until you guys shut it down.

Silva Monday, 18 June 2018 08:49 AM

Sir with all due respect, first please curb the internal crimes before you go international.

DJ Monday, 18 June 2018 08:51 AM

Also perfect place to study how politicians take a fat paycheck, do nothing and Rob the wealth of the nation

Dee Monday, 18 June 2018 08:56 AM

Spot on! Earth, water, air, cyber. Shall we run a campaign?

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 18 June 2018 09:30 AM

So how come inside the country, Sinhalese Buddhist clergy run amok reeking of hatred and violence towards anything

Ceylon Monday, 18 June 2018 02:42 PM

Srilanka is allready wirld famous location for idiots and criminals.why beed more?.

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SL a perfect location to run global programme on Maritime Crime: Sagala

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