22nd September 2021 15:00:24 Hours
The Sri Lanka Army Centre for Disaster Response Training (SLACDRT) at Gampola which conducted the ‘International Search and Advisory Group’ (INSARAG) Training of Trainers (ToT) Course had its closing and awarding ceremony on Friday (17) during a brief ceremony, held using zoom platform.
The ToT Course, conducted under the supervision of Colonel Anil Somaweera, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Centre for Disaster Response Training (SLACDRT) from 13th September 2021 to 17th September 2021 was followed by Army (20), Navy (05), Air Force (05), Police/STF (05) and Fire Brigade (05) personnel The course was successfully organized in close consultation with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Colombo.
The proceedings of the closing ceremony began with the opening remarks by Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe (Rtd), Director General, Disaster Management Centre through the zoom technology. The ToT course was organized with the prime aim of enhancing and sharing the knowledge of instructors/other officials of different organizations and establishments who directly involved in disaster relief. The consolidation final exercise of the INSARAG ToT Course, launched by the SLACDRT got underway in the Exercise area, close to Kotmale reservoir, hours before the awarding ceremony. The consolidation exercise consisted of Landslide Rescue operation and Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) operations and those scenarios were demonstrated by the students effectively, applying the theoretical and practical knowledge of the course.
The INSARAG is a network of disaster-prone and disaster responding countries and organizations, dedicated to urban search and rescue (USAR) and operational field coordination. It aims is to establish standards and classification for international USAR teams as well as methodology for international response coordination in the aftermath of earthquakes and collapsed structure disasters.
Dr Sapumal Danapala - National Programme Officer - WHO in Sri Lanka and Ms. Haruka Esaki - INSARAG Secretariat Asia and Pacific Region joined the closing session through zoom technology and shared their expertise views on the subject at the ceremony.
Major General Adeepa Thilakarathne (Rtd), Director Human Resources at DMC, Brigadier Priyantha Ubeysiriwardana, Director Operations at DMC, Group Captain Firzan Hashim (Rtd), Country Director A- PAD, Colonel Anil Somaweera, Commandant SLACDRT, Mr. Hiran Thilakarathne, Assistant Director Operations at DMC, Staff Officers and Instructors at SLACDRT attended the certificate awarding ceremony.
Restricted attendees to the occasion followed health guidelines, related to COVID-19 epidemic.
