a. Overview. Whenever, Sri Lanka encounters any disaster, it becomes imperative for the Army to respond quickly with its own management, organic resources, communication and administrative arrangements to assist civil authorities towards providing humanitarian assistance to prevent further loss of lives and property. In view of the facts, the existing disaster Response system of the civilian administration, most of the times continue to depend on the Armed Forces for disaster response. The Sri Lanka Army has been at the forefront of disaster response/recovery and hence needs to expand its capacities more professionally to cater for the ever-expanding threats of natural and man-made disasters.

b. Aim. To train Officers and ORs in order to fulfill training requirements to act as first responders in disaster and emergency situations in the country as an assistance provided by Sri Lanka Army is often needed when such situations occurred.

c. Level of Participants. Course modules are designed to meet the basic knowledge and skills for entry level participants who will be tasked to undertake actions as the first responder in search & rescue team in Sri Lanka Army.

d. Objectives. After undergoing this training course, the participants should be able to:

(1) To understand from a SAR member’s perspective, the concepts of Disaster Response, Organizations involve including role of Sri Lanka Army in HADR operations, search and rescue operations in broadly, the rescue missions including rope rescues, Urban rescues & water/flood rescues, and also idea about management of nuclear, biological and chemical emergencies, and medical emergencies and to apply skill effectively handling the situations.

(2) Acquire mastery over the handling and use of various tools and equipment of search and rescue and other disaster response operations;