Death penalty, life imprisonment introduced for high seas drug crimes

Sri Lanka tightens laws against international maritime drug smuggling

Law applies to any person, whether a Sri Lankan citizen or a foreign national

A gazette has been issued officially enacting new legislation that introduces severe penalties—including the death penalty and life imprisonment—for drug-related crimes committed on the high seas. 

The Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, No. 7 of 2026, was passed by the Parliament of Sri Lanka and published as a supplement to the Gazette on March 6, 2026, strengthening the country’s fight against international maritime drug smuggling.   

The cornerstone of the newly enacted legislation is the insertion of Section 54AA into the principal enactment (Chapter 218). This new section strictly prohibits the manufacture of dangerous drugs, specifically identifying heroin, cocaine, morphine, and opium, on the high seas. Crucially, this law applies to any person, whether a Sri Lankan citizen or a foreign national, who commits these offences while on board a ship registered in Sri Lanka or a stateless vessel. Individuals convicted of manufacturing these illicit substances by the High Court will face either the death penalty or life imprisonment.  

In addition to targeting the manufacturing of narcotics, the amendment heavily penalises the possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs in international waters.  

Any individual aboard a Sri Lankan-registered or stateless ship found possessing or trafficking illicit drugs in quantities exceeding the limits outlined in the Act, without proper authorization or a valid license, will be subjected to strict punishments corresponding to the specific offenses.  

To further cripple maritime smuggling operations, the new legislation grants authorities the power to confiscate stateless vessels involved in these illegal activities. The Act defines a “stateless ship” as any vessel that is not registered under the laws of any state or does not fly a recognized national flag.  

Furthermore, the legislation explicitly defines the “high seas” as all waters beyond the territorial waters of Sri Lanka or any other state, without prejudicing the legal status of the Exclusive Economic Zone under international law.  

It was reported that the move to strengthen the law was largely influenced by several major drug seizures carried out at sea by the Sri Lanka Navy and other law enforcement authorities.  

In 2025, the Sri Lanka Navy, working with international intelligence agencies, intercepted many stateless fishing vessels in international waters carrying large quantities of heroin and crystal methamphetamine. These operations highlighted gaps in the existing legal framework, as authorities previously faced challenges in prosecuting foreign suspects arrested in international waters.