Island’s First Ever BASE Jumpers Qualified in European Training Course

Three elite Commando and Special Force members of the Sri Lanka Army made history by becoming the island’s first ever BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) jumpers, after successful completion of the ‘BASE jumpers’ course in Austria.

The one and only three BASE jumpers who excelled in the BASE jumpers course at the Pressurized Base Jump training institute in Austria are Major Nalin Kulathunga and Corporal A.L.A Premalal of Commando Regiment and Warrant Officer II H.K.S Kumarasiri of Special Force Regiment.

BASE jumping is one of the most daring stunt acts, where the jumper takes a leap from a height (fixed object) over 500 feet from the ground level and quickly opens a parachute and land. B.A.S.E. stand for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth, as these are the four heights from which these jumpers exit.

The BASE jumper would climb to such heights and jumps on his own with a split second act to open his chute to glide to the place of landing. They wear a specially designed tailor made parachute.

These parachutists have around 500 freefall skydiving jump experience under their belts.

Since climbing to such places on foot demands a lot of physical fitness these jumpers need to be extremely fit. As such, now the Army has three BASE jumpers who could perform jumps from any suitable building, precipice, etc in the country.