The Navy conducts operations in the North to combat illegal fishing using commercial explosives.

A special search operation carried out by the Navy on Ariyalai Beach, Jaffna, led to the recovery of 51 commercial explosive sticks on July 29, 2023. The use of explosives for fishing poses a serious threat to marine life and can cause long-lasting damage to marine ecosystems. Thus, the Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular operations to crack down on fishing using explosives and other illegal fishing practices in the island waters. In a similar operation, SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command conducted a special operation in the beach area of Ariyalai on July 29 and recovered a suspicious sack concealed in nearby shrubs. The sack has been stuffed with 51 commercial explosive sticks, which were subsequently taken into naval custody.