AFRICANS GRADUATED AT COAST GUARD MIRISSA

Certificate awarding ceremony of the Advanced evidence handling and ship documentation course within VBSS operation was held with the participation of senior officials from Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and Australian Federal Police in AM 8^th Oct 21 at advanced Training Centre Mirissa.

Advanced evidence handling and ship documentation course within VBSS operation training programme was conducted by the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of UNODC with the assistance of Australian Federal Police and facilitated by the Directorate of Training SLCG. This training Programme was handled under the supervision of GMCP-UNODC senior VBSS instructor Mr. Craig Lunn and, was assisted by Mr. Hameed from Maldives Coast Guard. Sixteen international course participants from Ghana and Nigeria representing various law enforcement agencies were successfully completed the course held at SLCG Advanced Training Centre (ATC) Mirissa and this is the second international law enforcement training programme hosted by the SLCG extending its regional law enforcement training capacity to subordinate agencies.

GMCP UNODC Programme coordinator Indian Ocen East Team Ms. Pernille Rasmusses attended the closing ceremony as chief guest and delivered keynote address of the closing ceremony. She expressed her gratitude and appreciation to SLCG for valuable contribution and active involvement in conducting maritime law enforcement training. She also highlighted the expansion of the UNODC training capability beyond the Asian region and enables to invite South African countries to train in Sri Lanka. She handed over certificates to participants and congratulated to all course participants who successfully completed the course. In her closing remark, she admired the contribution of all the parties to make this training programme a success. The Deputy Director-General SLCG, Commodore NMJD Nissanka, RWP, RSP, USP, ndu, nswc, MSc (NS&WS) also graced this event as guest of honour and handed over certificates to the participants. Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Mr. Robert Wilson, Senior officer Sri Lanka and Maldives international command in Australian High commission in Sri Lanka too attended the closing ceremony as a special guest and he also joined with the certificate awarding for the course participants.

Later, mementos were presented by the Deputy Director-General SLCG to Ms. Pernille Rasmusses and Mr. Robert Wilson in appreciation of commendable support providing to develop capacity building of the SLCG and to mark this memorable occasion of closing ceremony.

This collaborative effort of GMCP UNODC, Australian federal police and SLCG will enhance & empowered the competency and cooperation of local and friendly foreign law enforcement agencies, which swiftly help to meet the evolving maritime security challenges in their respective domains. Further, there will be more joint training throughout this year at ATC Mirissa.