Srilanka, Nov. 23 -- The Government will distribute Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracking devices to small-scale and multi-day fishing vessels under its "A Nation United: Eradicating the Menace of Narcotic Drugs" program, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran said yesterday.

He said plans were under way to procure and install VMS units on 50,000 small boats and 7,000 multi-day vessels. The Budget has allocated Rs. 12 billion for the fisheries sector, he added.

This follows the increasing reports of drug trafficking involving local fishermen, with narcotics including heroin, crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and Kerala ganja being smuggled into the country in international waters, he said.

"It is clear ...