Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo attends closing
ceremony of FVBO training in Trincomalee

September 23, 2022

The closing ceremony of Fishing Vessel Boarding Operation (FVBO) training course, conducted with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was held in Trincomalee on 22nd September 2022. The event was graced by the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, H.E. Trine Jøranli Eskedal.

The initiative to train officers on Fishing Vessel Boarding Operations, with the support of Global Maritime Crime Programme of UNODC was first started on 04th May 2016, aiming to tackle a wide range of crimes taking place via sea routes.

The seventh edition of the training programme in the year 2022 was held for 02 weeks at the Special Boat Squadron Headquarters in Trincomalee and Sober Island, commencing from 12th September and it was funded through the coordination of Royal Norwegian Embassy. Four (04) officers and 01 lady officer of the Navy, 05 officers of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, 04 officers of the Sri Lanka Fisheries Department, 07 officers and 01 lady officer of the Maldivian Coast Guard as well as 01 officer and 01 lady officer of the Ministry of Fisheries, Maldives participated in the course making the tally of course participant 24.

The final exercise of the FVBO training course was held in the sea area of the Foul Point, Trincomalee, augmented by Sri Lanka Navy vessel A 521 on 22nd September and after which the closing ceremony got underway, under the patronage of the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Officials from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Commander Eastern Naval Area Rear Admiral Jayantha Kularatne, Commanding Officer Special Boat Squadron, Captain Nishshanka Wickramasinghe and a group of officers and sailors were present on this occasion.

Courtesy - www.navy.lk