Govt. to set up Coast Guard Dept

Chaminda PERERA

The Government will set up the Coast Guard Department to prevent human smuggling, drug trafficking, pirating and illegal fishing in the country's territorial waters under the Ministry of Defence, said Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a memorandum submitted by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Defence, Public Security and Law and Order to draft a Bill for the setting up of this Coast Guard Department. The Draft Bill in respect of setting up the Coast Guard Department will be produced before Parliament after it is referred to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence, Public Security, Law and Order.