Coast Guard to protect human and drug trafficking
Chaminda PERERA in Galle
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said human smuggling and drug
peddling activities could effectively be curbed with the establishment
of a Coast Guard Force.
Some people attempted to enter Western countries via Malaysia and
Indonesia. The country faced a series of disasters due to its failure to
protect its coastal belt, he said.
Speaking at the launching of Coast Guard Force at the Galle Harbour,
the President said that protecting of coastal belt around the country
will ensure its sovereignty and independence.
He said a large number of people were trying to leave the country for
Australia and Italy by illegal means. The President said this situation
was brought under control with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy.
He added that human smuggling has made an adverse impact on the
relations with other countries and hoped that this situation can
effectively be dealt with the establishment of a Coast Guard Force.
"We have requested the UN to grant us the right to expand Sri Lanka's
maritime boundaries by 20-fold with much hope", he said.
He added that those who think of the national security should
necessarily focus on the coastal belt security as well .
The terrorists had control over 2\3 of the coastal belt around the
country and the Government was able to liberate these areas from the
clutches of terrorists with the assistance of the Armed Forces, he said.
President Rajapaksa reminisced that the establishment of a Coast
Guard Force was a long felt need.
He added that he could establish Coast Guard Service when he was the
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister and over 100 youth were trained
under this program. |