President wants three Offshore Patrol Vessels for Coast Guards

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard ( SLCG) wants the Colombo Dockyard to construct three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) at a cost of US$ 180 million.

President Maithripala Sirisena, as Minister of Defence, has sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for this purpose.

He has said that the Coast Guard is entrusted with carrying out patrolling in maritime waters -- about 517,000 square kilometres of sea around Sri Lanka. The Coast Guards conduct search and rescue, enforce law and order in coastal areas, territorial waters and the maritime zone of Sri Lanka’s high seas, he has pointed out.