Sri Lanka, June 12 -- In a coastal security operation, the Sri Lanka Navy took hold of a dinghy loaded with an illicit consignment of Kendu leaves and a massive haul of pharmaceutical products off the Alankuda beach area in Puttalam yesterday.

The search operation was executed by personnel from SLNS Vijaya, operating under the Northwestern Naval Command. Upon spotting a suspicious dinghy drifting near the Alankuda coast, Naval personnel moved in to inspect the boat. The search led to the recovery of over 177 kg of Kendu leaves, alongside a massive stock of unauthorised medicinal items. The pharmaceutical haul comprised approximately 354,000 medicinal tablets, 7,673 packs of medicinal ointments and 118 bottles of liquid medicine. It is be...