Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Defence visited Navy Headquarters to assess maritime security operations, with particular emphasis on efforts to combat drug trafficking through sea routes.

Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) conducted a review of the Navy's operational activities at Defence Headquarters, focusing on maritime security measures and counter-narcotics efforts. During the visit, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Damian Fernando and senior naval officers briefed the Deputy Minister on the service's strategic approach to protecting Sri Lanka's waters and disrupting illicit trafficking networks.

The discussions centered on the Navy's role in detecting and intercepting drug-trafficking operations conducted through maritime routes. Senior officers presented the tactical and strategic methods employed to identify, intercept and dismantle networks involved in transporting narcotics by sea. The Navy outlined its continuous operational deployment across the country's maritime domain, with personnel and resources stationed to monitor sea areas and respond to emerging security threats.

Representing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Deputy Minister Jayasekara commended naval personnel for their operational commitment and efforts to strengthen maritime security infrastructure. He acknowledged the Navy's performance in combating sea-based drug trafficking and its broader contribution to national security. The visit underscores the government's ongoing emphasis on maritime security as a priority area, given the country's geographical position on significant shipping lanes that can be exploited for illicit activities.