Navy gives a specialized ship boarding training for the naval and coast guard personnel of Madagascar and Comoros

Upon the request of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC) the Sri Lanka Navy is currently conducting a specialized ship boarding training for the naval and coastguard personnel of Madagascar and Comoros. This training is carried out by the Navy’s elite, Special Boat Squadron (SBS) in Trincomalee and at Sri Lanka Coast Guard Training Centre Mirissa. As a result, six personnel from Comoros Coast Guard and another six personnel of Madagascar Navy along with an interpreter from Madagascar are being trained on procedures and tactics in relation to "Visit Board Search and Seizure” (VBSS). The training which was started on 03rd May 2016, will continue until the 28th of this month. This special training carried out on the recommendation of the UNODC, will become a positive approach for the Madagascar and Comoros defence personnel to fight against drug smuggling and sea piracy activities in the East African seas.

On 13th October 2015, the Indian Ocean Region's Senior Drug Enforcement Officials' Meeting, which was jointly organized by the UNODC and the Ministry of Defence was held in Colombo. Subsequent to the proceedings, the Navy’s elite SBS and Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel carried out a demonstration of a mid-sea boarding and vessel searching techniques at the Port of Colombo. During the demonstration, the professional competency required for boarding a vessel at sea by using the advantage of surprise was highlighted. The difficulty of detecting narcotics onboard a vessel and how smugglers exploit such environments for their advantage was amply displayed to the delegation. The delegation praised the SLN and SLCG for having such a competent and formidable elite force, and a few delegates had requested the Commander of the Navy through the UNODC to impart such training to their men in the Navies and Coast Guards. In pursuance to above, the UNODC has channeled Madagascar Navy and Comoros Coast Guard personnel, as the first batch to obtain the much needed VBSS training from the Sri Lanka Navy.