Introduction

1. The Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) was established with the aim of reducing the impact of the LTTE on the SL Navy during humanitarian operations and preparing a team of specialist naval personnel for shallow water operation, commenced in early 2006, and Special Boat Squadron instructors were used for the training. Initially, five officers (then Lieutenant N Ranaweera NRX 1476, Lieutenant WAP Wickramarachchi NRI 1544, Sub Lieutenant DDK Dayananda NRX 1884, Sub Lieutenant KJ Samaratunga NVX 5414) joined the squadron as Group commanders after completing their training at the Battalangunduwa Naval Base and the Point Pedro Naval Base.

2. Under the command of the Group Commanders, a number of vessels were attached to NSU Battalangunda and NSU Point Pedrodroduwa, SLNS Thammenna, SLNS Gajaba and the SLN Dockyard, thereby strengthening the military position. At that time, 42 boats and 150 sailors were attached to the force. Initially, there were small boats of 18 feet long (Jawalyn) for operations, and for the convenience of carrying out operations, 23 feet long boats with 200HP external combustion engines (Cedric) were added to the force. The training activities of this force, which began in 2006, are not limited to shallow sea battles but are currently carried out in various sectors.

3. Today, the Sri Lanka Navy Disaster Management Training School (SLN-DMTS) has also been established within the Rapid Action Boat Squadron Training Unit. Accordingly, the training of disaster management and first response teams and the production of international level lifesaving certificate holders in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Life Saving Association are currently being carried out very efficiently by the Rapid Action Boats Squadron Training Unit.

Sri Lanka Navy Disaster Management Training School (SLN DMTS)

4. Currently, training activities in the field of disaster management in Sri Lanka are conducted at the Disaster Management Center, with the Disaster Management Training School of the Sri Lanka Army, Gampola, the Disaster Management Training School of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Digana and the Disaster Management Training School of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rapid Action Boats Squadron Headquarters as the main training centers, and the Disaster Management Training School of the Sri Lanka Navy occupies an important place among these.

5. The Disaster Management Training School of the Sri Lanka Navy is located in a beautiful natural environment near the Kala Oya and Puttalam Lagoon on the southern border of the Wilpattu National Park, in a very beautiful environment, which is very suitable for carrying out practical activities in dealing with water related disasters. Several very valuable simulations owned by SLN DMTS have been constructed for training. Among them, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) simulator is the only training simulator available in the country for Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue operations. Landslide Simulations and Flood Simulations have been constructed and are currently being used for training purposes at this school.

6. The Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) had a limited number of instructors at the beginning, but they were committed to providing the necessary service to the Navy at a high level. The RABS has gradually grown and has become a training unit that plays a very important role in the Navy. So far, the training unit has successfully completed 28 RABS Basic Training courses and produced a professional group of officers and sailors (consisting of 31 officers, 113 senior sailors and 259 junior sailors). Currently, Lieutenant Commander (C) KKCRL Amarasiri NRX 3464 is appointed as the Training Commander of the SLN DMTS and Lieutenant GRSR Thilakarathna NRX 4060 is appointed as the Training Officer. The Chief Instructor is Fleet Chief Petty Officer KMDS Bandara XS 40474. Furthermore, a team of instructors consisting of 07 senior instructors and 22 junior instructors within the training unit is dedicated to training activities.

Training Program for Shallow Water Operations

7. The Rapid Action Boat Squadron conducts training activities in several fields. Accordingly, training officers and sailors to combat illegal smuggling at sea, deal with disaster situations, and perform security duties in shallow waters using small boats is of primary importance. Among the courses conducted by the SLN DMTS for this purpose, the following courses are of primary importance.

Training Program in the Field of Lifesaving

8. Among the training activities conducted by the SLN DMTS, training activities related to the field of lifesaving occupy a prominent place. Furthermore, the Rapid Response Rescue & Relief Unit is the only training unit in the Navy that produces internationally recognized lifesaving sailors. It plays an important role in producing professionally competent lifesaving sailors.

9. This SLN DMTS conducts training activities in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Life Saving Association, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Disaster Management Training Centre, Sri Lanka Fire Service and various international organizations. Here, training of seafarers from the basic training course in life saving to the Senior Life Saving Instructor Course, special courses in the field of first aid and all courses related to the prevention of drowning at sea, rescue and water safety are conducted for naval officers and members of the tri-services as well as members of other government institutions and civil organizations.

10. In addition, to facilitate the port security duties performed by the Navy's volunteer sailors, courses on handling small boats (FGDs) are also conducted through a RABS Rear Training Area Kaluthara. Here, sailors are provided with the necessary theoretical and practical training to handle small boats and perform security duties using those boats.

Training Activities in the Field of Disaster Management

11. With the establishment of the Sri Lanka Navy Disaster Management Training School within the Rapid Action Boat Squadron Training Unit, the training unit was entrusted with a great responsibility to produce personnel with the necessary professional skills to perfect the contribution of the Navy in disaster management in Sri Lanka.

12. In order to fulfill the national need of disaster management, the SLN DMTS conducts internationally recognized training courses in collaboration with government organizations and non-governmental organizations at both the local and international levels. Among such institutions, the National Disaster Management Center, the Sri Lanka Fire Service Department, etc are important locally and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Teams associated with the United Nations, etc are also important internationally.

13. Moreover, training courses for disaster management are conducted in collaboration with other sister forces of Sri Lanka (Army, Air Force, Police and Civil Defense). In addition, the only simulated building in Sri Lanka that can conduct search and rescue exercises through collapsed structures is located in the Rapid Action Boat Squadron Disaster Management Training School. Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Navy Disaster Management Training School provides training to deal with natural disasters such as floods, landslides, building collapses and tsunamis that are most common in Sri Lanka and to conduct operations to rescue people displaced by such disasters.

14. In addition, various trainings to be carried out in the areas of minimizing disaster damage, rescue operations in disaster situations and restoring normal life are carried out in this training school using simulations. For this, a landslide simulation and an internationally recognized Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue simulators are among the resources available at the SLN DMTS. In addition, various modern equipment required for disaster management operations are also available at the DMTS. Thus, by connecting with various international and local institutions and equipped with the necessary resources for training, the SLN DMTS is currently taking priority in providing the necessary training to produce a group of experts in the field of disaster management within the Navy as well as in various government and non-government institutions.

15. The Rapid Action Boat Squadron Training Unit, since the squadron's inception, has been performing a silent service for the betterment of the nation, under the theme of 'Victory Beyond Infinity', by producing shallow water sea fighters, experts in the lifesaving field, and sailors capable of facing catastrophic situations in the country with professional skills that suit the needs of the Navy and the country.