VBSS course hosted by SL Navy for foreign Naval partners

A Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Course for the Coast Guard and Navy officers of Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka commenced at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Headquarters in Trincomalee on 19^th August 2019.

The programme is being held under the guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. The opening address of the course was held in the presence of Commander Dharmasiri Herath, the Training Commander Special Boat Squadron Training School and the Maritime Law Enforcement mentors from Japanese Coast Guard and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Programme.

The two week-long course organized for the fourth time by the Sri Lanka Navy in coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Programme, is attended by a total of 20 Naval and Coast Guard personnel from above countries. Accordingly, 08 Naval personnel of Bangladesh, 07 Naval personnel of Maldives and 01 Coast Guard Officer and 07 sailors of SL Navy are attending the 4^th VBSS course. During the course, the participants are expected to hone their knowledge mainly on drug identification, drug transferring methods and planning, preparation and boarding procedures.

Accordingly, the training module lectures and exercises will certainly useful to UNODC personnel in responding over maritime threats and coastal security in respective countries as well as, this training session will help to develop professional skills and exchange of knowledge between foreign participants and host country. The VBSS training programme is scheduled to terminate on 30th August 2019.