US continues support for Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Navy

The United States concluded its second training program for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard at the Trincomalee Naval Base recently. The training was funded under the US Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program, which promotes maritime security cooperation. Featuring three US Coast Guard instructors, 20 personnel from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and four from the Sri Lanka Navy graduated as Coast Guard Instructors.

In the presence of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, US Ambassador Michele J. Sison awarded certificates to the 24 participants and spoke at the graduation ceremony. “The United States Government is pleased to conduct this training in Sri Lanka for the second time as part of our premier initiative to partner with other countries to improve their border security,” Ambassador Sison said.  

“The United States hopes to continue its cooperation with the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard through this program. It draws on expertise from the US Departments of State, Homeland Security, Commerce, Energy, and Defence and provides a range of legal, licensing, and enforcement training and equipment for countries around the globe,” Sison said.

This train-the-trainer workshop commenced on 15 April and was designed to instruct students on how to effectively train others in maritime law enforcement as Boarding Officers or Boarding Team Members. The US Coast Guard instructors taught techniques in student management, presentation skills, developing visual aids, and role-play scenarios, and theories of adult learning and feedback. The first course was conducted in Sri Lanka in October 2012.

In addition to these programs, the EXBS Program is also funding training in the United States for two Sri Lanka Coast Guard Officers, along with a Maldivian Officer. One Sri Lankan officer will graduate from his four month training in May and the other will complete his three month training in June 2013.