Navy seizes stock of smuggled Kendu leaves in Negombo

The Sri Lanka Navy seized over 422 kg of Kendu leaves during a search operation carried out in the sea area of Kepumgoda, Negombo on 5 November 2026.

The operation was mounted by SLNS Kelani in the Western Naval Command. Accordingly, naval personnel retrieved 11 suspicious sacks floating in the Kepumgoda sea area, recovering Kendu leaves stuffed in them. It is suspected that smugglers may have abandoned the stock due to heightened naval surveillance in the area.

The recovered stock of Kendu leaves was handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for onward legal action.