Internationally recognised certificates for Cadet Corps:

Seven day lifesaving training for NCC

Ridma Dissanayake

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) conducted a lifesaving training programme for the National Cadet Corps (NCC) for the first time in Sri Lanka.

This is a seven day in house training programme organized by SLCG on a concept of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias.

The special training programme was held in Balapitiya.

Twenty three school cadet corps from several schools selected by the NCC participated in this programme.

The passing out ceremony was held under the patronage of Rear Admiral Dias on Sunday. He opened the second Lifesaving Training School of the SLCG at the same event.

The training programme comprises theory and practical training. Cadet corps who completed the training programme successfully, received internationally recognised certificates for lifesaving from the SLCG. The SLCG is making arrangements to provide this training to a large number of school cadets next year.

The first Lifesaving Training School was established in Mirissa.

Meanwhile, SLCG established their fourth lifesaving unit in Wellawatta. Others have been established in Mirissa, Polhengoda and Galle Face.

The Wellawatta lifesaving post is the first in Sri Lanka to meet international standards with observing facilities in an elevated platform.

Equipment and accessories of international standard are provided for each lifesaving unit operated by the SLCG.

The unit will be manned 24 hours by well-trained lifesavers attached to the Coastguard.

Plans are underway to establish more lifesaving posts around Sri Lanka. SLCG lifesavers have saved 37 lives during the last several years and 15 among them are tourists.