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NAVSTRAT-2030 NAVSTRAT-2030

in SLCG Rohana, in Mirissa. Advanced Training Centre is dedicated to designing and providing Even though the approved personnel strength of 1600, encompassing 100 officers and 1500 sailors
advanced training to newly joined personnel to SLCG. for the Coast Guard, up to the present time, has resulted in pronounced operational and
administrative challenges for the SLCG. Consequently, the SLCG had to strategically allocate its
The Coast Guard fleet was further expanded with the addition of a few vessels ranging from existing human resources in accordance with operational requirements and threat analyses.
Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to small craft. SLCG received its first OPV (CG 60) from the Indian However, it is evident that SLCG has functioned with below mentioned cadre (Table 2.1) over the
Coast Guard (formerly ICG Varuna) and was commissioned as SLCGS Suraksha at the Port of preceding seven years.
st
Colombo on 21 October 2017. Subsequently, the Government of Japan donated two 30 meter
long steel hull Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) under the project for Maritime Safety Capability
Improvement in Sri Lanka and commissioned as SLCGS Samudra Raksha and SLCGS Table 2.1
th
Samaraksha, at the Port of Colombo on 29 August 2018. These ships are equipped with SLCG Cadre
equipment used for firefighting, oil spill management and law enforcement activities. The second
OPV of the SLCG was received from the SLN and was commissioned as the SLCGS Jayesagara YEAR OFFICER SAILOR FULL
rd
at the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee on 23 July 2022. RNF VNF VSS RNR VNR TOTAL
2017 91 1130 68 29 58 20 1396
The Contemporary Sri Lanka Coast Guard 2018 92 1134 70 30 60 15 1401
The SLCG persists in attending to evolving national imperatives, encompassing the rescue of 2019 94 1105 107 59 28 04 1303
persons in distress, prevention of illicit and coercive maritime activities and promoting economic 2020 101 1089 123 61 20 06 1400
well-being and environmental custodianship. While the Coast Guard delivers exemplary service 2021 94 1099 122 63 22 04 1404
to the nation, the escalating demands of missions coupled with limited resource availability persist
as ongoing challenges, posing obstacles to the preparedness of the Service for its designated duties, 2022 101 1153 118 59 18 04 1463
functions, and contingency operations. Although new assets provide the Coast Guard with 2023 109 1086 118 61 10 02 1386
remarkable capability, it is imperative to ensure the comprehensive training, provisioning and
maintenance of the workforce and shore infrastructure essential for the operation and maintenance Furthermore, a deficiency in personnel is evident across various Coast Guard deployments and
of these assets. Investments of this nature are pivotal for enabling missions, guaranteeing present fleet units, including the Coast Guard Headquarters.
operational success, and catalysing a transformative shift in the modus operandi of future
operations. Functioning of SLCG

The budgetary request of the Coast Guard is concentrated on endeavours aimed at reinstating The SLCG was made responsible for law enforcement and security of the coastal areas, the
service readiness by purposefully investing in technology, assets and support essential for fulfilling Maritime Zones of Sri Lanka and the high seas under the existing SLCG Act. Currently, maritime
extant requirements and addressing emerging mission demands, all while maintaining a resilient law enforcement and coastal security of Sri Lanka is mainly governed by a two-tiered structure.
and proficient workforce. It embodies consequential, risk-informed decisions that leverage scarce The SLN patrols the IMBL and EEZ by using both SLN and SLCG sea going assets except few
resources to enhance operational results, rectify outstanding maintenance backlogs, attract and IPCs and smaller craft deployed under the operational control of SLCG. This operational control
st
retain a skilled and diverse workforce and modernize infrastructure to counteract 21 century has been taken charge by the SLN due to lacunas of SLCG to cater its operational monitoring
threats. Therefore, the SLCG is in the process of charting its course to the future having the right functions independently from the inception.
understanding of the country’s vision into a strategic way forward, broadening duties and functions
on the following scopes; Other than the fleet utilization by SLCG for maritime security and law enforcement, SLCG deploy
its personnel for SLCG Bases, Stations, Sub-stations, Fishing Monitoring Points at fishery
 Maritime Security and Law Enforcement harbours, Lifesaving Points in key tourist beaches and dedicated teams for Oil Spill response and
 Maritime Safety management in the four Coast Guard regions. Aforementioned functions and duties are carried out
 Marine environment protection through officers and sailors of SLN deputed for SLCG for a specified period. SLCG ships and
 International Cooperation craft attached to four regions (North, East, South and West) for rapid operational deployment
considering the strategic and operational readiness and availability of the seagoing units for such
purposes.
For the smooth function and easy administration of the SLCG, four Coast Guard regions (North,
East, South, West) have been established with the followings; However, as the SLCG cannot afford a fleet of vessels intended solely for specialized missions

 SLCG Bases - 02 due to financial constraints, it is required to acquire vessels which are capable of carrying out a
 SLCG Stations - 08 diverse range of Coast Guard duties. Moreover, the current Coast Guard fleet proves insufficient
 SLCG Substations - 08 for the efficient execution of maritime law enforcement operations within the maritime zones of
 Fishing Monitoring Points - 26 Sri Lanka.
 Life Saving Posts - 16

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