A REGIONAL TRAINING MODULE CONCLUDED AT SLCG ASSISTING TO ENHANCE REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING

The closing ceremony of Visit, Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) course for Boarding Teams and VBSS Advanced course were conducted by the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and assisted by United State Embassy in Sri Lanka. At the closing ceremony, 08 Officers from Bangladesh Coast Guard, 03 Officers, and 05 sailors from Sri Lanka Coast Guard were awarded certificates.

The multinational training event was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) and this is considered as another important training event in international training extended by SLCG for the regional law enforcement training. The training was conducted by the GMCP, UNODC senior VBSS instructor Mr Craig Lunn and assisted by Maldivian National Defence Force 1st Lieutenant M. Habeeb.

Ms. Pernille Rasmussen Programme officer GMCP UNODC Indian Ocean East region graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and the deputy Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard Commodore Janaka Nissanka, Mr. Jhon Gerard Law enforcement assistance attaché, embassy of the United State of America in Sri Lanka, delegation from Bangladesh, senior officials from the UNODC, senior officers from training directorate of SLCG were present at the colourful event. Director Training SLCG Captain Athula Jayaweera welcomed all distinguished officials for the closing ceremony.

The delegation of senior officials from the Bangladesh law enforcement agencies attend the event was headed by Mr Jafar Ullah, additional secretary to the Ministry of home affairs of Bangladesh witnessed training activities and attended closing ceremony. The delegation comprises with the Bangladesh officials of Department of Narcotic Control, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh River Police, Department of Fisheries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the outset Captain Kazi Shah Alam, Zonal Cdr Bangladesh Coast Guard addressed the gathering on behalf of the delegation.