The Coast Guard Department has taken action to set up coastguard units in each fisheries harbour. The main coordinating centres will be set up in Colombo, Mirissa in the South, Oluvil in Ampara, Kalpitiya and Mannar in the North Western coast, Trincomalee in the East and Point Pedro and Pooneryn in the Jaffna Peninsula.

To support this project, the Department has mooted a proposal to recruit 2000 more personnel to the Coast Guard and fast moving crafts will also be acquired. The Coast Guard Department is now equipped with 250 personnel and four crafts.

The Government has understood the potential of the sea around the island. As such it has been decided to set up a 'Sea Police' as a far-sighted initiative.

According to the Coast Guard Department, the country’s sea is now seven times bigger than the land area. After 2027, Sri Lanka will own a sea area of 25 times that of the landmass. Sri Lanka has made a request to the UN authorities to claim for the sea above the continental shelf of the island and the request is to be considered after 2027.