793kg of smuggled Kendu leaves seized in separate operations

The Sri Lanka Navy, in coordinated operations with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Excise Department, seized about 793kg of smuggled Kendu leaves and a dingy on 28 October 2025. The successful interdictions were the result of two separate search operations conducted on the Ippantivu Island, Kalpitiya and in the Maoya Lagoon, Negombo.

During an operation carried out by SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command with the Puttalam Excise Special Unit on Ippantivu Island, 15 sacks containing about 484kg of Kendu leaves were taken into custody.

In another operation in Negombo's Maoya Lagoon, SLNS Kelani in the Western Naval Command and Coast Guard inspected a suspicious dinghy and seized approx 309kg of Kendu leaves and the dinghy.

The stock of Kendu leaves seized in the Northwestern Naval Command was handed over to the Puttalam Excise Special Unit for further investigation. Meanwhile, the Kendu leaves and the dinghy seized in the Western Naval Command were handed over to the Katunayake Customs Superintendent’s Office to initiate legal proceedings.