Asia Pacific Alliance – Sri Lanka

30°C Colombo | October 13, 2025

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Stay safe on the roads during floods! Follow these

Stay safe on the roads during floods! Follow these essential tips to protect yourself and others 🌧️🚗

வெள்ளத்தின்போது சாலைப்பாதுகாப்புக்கு கவனம் செலுத்துங்கள்! உங்கள் பாதுகாப்பையும் பிறரின் பாதுகாப்பையும் உறுதி செய்ய இத்துடன் கூறப்பட்டுள்ள முக்கிய குறிப்புகளை பின்பற்றுங்கள் 🌧️🚗

ගංවතුර ආපදාවකදී, රථ වාහන ධාවනය කරන විට ප්‍රවේශම් වන්න. ඔබගේ සහ අන් අයගේ ජීවිත ආරක්ෂාව සඳහා මෙම අත්‍යාවශ්‍ය උපදෙස් අනුගමනය කරන්න 🌧️🚗

#FloodSafety #DriveSmart #StaySafe #DisasterPreparedness

Preparedness starts with awareness. Save these eme

Preparedness starts with awareness. Save these emergency hotlines today—your lifeline when disaster strikes.

One call can save a life ✨

පෙර සූදානම ආරම්භ වන්නේ දැනුවත් කිරීමෙනි. හදිසි අවස්ථාවකදී මෙම දුරකථන අංක අමතන්න.

එක් ඇමතුමකින් ජීවිතයක් බේරා ගත හැකිය. ✨

தயார்நிலை விழிப்புணர்வுடன் தொடங்குகிறது. இந்த அவசரகால தொடர்பு இலக்கங்கள் பேரழிவு ஏட்படும்போது உங்களுக்கு உதவும்.

ஒரு அழைப்பு ஒரு உயிரைக் காப்பாற்றும்✨

#DisasterPreparedness #EmergencyHotlines #StaySafe

Due to the Deep Depression approaching the Southwe

Due to the Deep Depression approaching the Southwest Bay of Bengal, we must prioritize safety. Stay informed, stay safe, and remain alert. Your awareness can save lives 💪🏼⛑️

නිරිත දිග බෙංගාල බොක්ක ප්‍රදේශයෙහි පවතින ගැඹුරු පීඩන අවපාතය හේතුවෙන් හටගත් තත්වය යටතේ අපි ආරක්ෂාවට පළමු තැන දිය යුතුය. දැනුවත්භාවයකින්, ආරක්ෂාකාරීව, අවධානයෙන් සිටින්න. ඔබේ දැනුවත්භාවය නිසා ජීවිත ගණනාවක් බේරාගැනීමට හැකිය 💪🏼⛑️

தென்மேற்கு வங்கக்கடலில்
காற்றழுத்த தாழமுக்கம் நெருங்கி வருவதால், பாதுகாப்புக்கு முன்னுரிமை அளிக்க வேண்டும். அனைவரும் தகவலறிந்து இருங்கள், பாதுகாப்பாக இருங்கள் மற்றும் விழிப்புடன் இருங்கள். உங்கள் விழிப்புணர்வு உயிர்களைக் காப்பாற்றும் 💪🏼⛑️

#awarenesssaveslives #cyclone #staysafe #bealert #apadsl #srilanka

Honoring Achievements at the Swift Water and Rope

Honoring Achievements at the Swift Water and Rope Rescue Training Closing Ceremony 🌊🧗‍♂️

The program concluded with participants receiving internationally recognized certificates for their dedication and hard work. Distinguished guests, including Mr. Firzan Hashim (Country Director, A-PAD SL), Mr. Jien Wan Yiao (Deputy Director, NFA Taiwan), and Mr. Shie Xhu Zhang (Director, NFA Training Facility), attended the ceremony. Trainers and dignitaries were also honored with tokens of appreciation for their invaluable support. A proud moment celebrating teamwork, skill, and resilience! 💪✨

#RescueTraining #DisasterPreparedness #SwiftWaterRescue #RopeRescueSkills #EmergencyResponse #apadsl #NFATaiwan #Teamwork #RegionalCollaboration #BuildingResilience

Scaling new heights in rescue readiness! 🪢🧗🏽‍♀️

The rope rescue segment of the 2024 Joint Indo-Pacific Region Swift Water and Rope Rescue Training Program equipped participants with much-needed skills for mastering advanced rope rescue techniques like ascending, descending, and rope-to-rope transfers, high angle elevation, stretcher rescue, anchor systems, team rescue, and hauling systems, while following safety protocols.

Every knot tied, every technique learned, brings us one step closer to saving lives when disaster strikes.

#DisasterPreparedness #SAR #searchandrescue #APAD #apadsl #oneworld #WomenInRescue #RopeRescue

Looking back to move forward. The 2004 tsunami lef

Looking back to move forward. The 2004 tsunami left a deep impact on Sri Lanka, but by understanding the facts and recognizing early warning signs like sudden sea-level changes and ground shaking, we can be better prepared for the future.
Knowledge saves lives! 🌊

#TsunamiFacts #EarlyWarning #StayPrepared #apadsl #ResilienceInAction #GetToHighGround #worldtsunamiawarenessday

After another two intensive days of training, our

After another two intensive days of training, our Search and Rescue team successfully concluded the swift water SAR segment of the 2024 Joint Indo-Pacific Region Swift Water and Rope Rescue Training Program in Taiwan. 🌊🛟

Participants built on their skills, mastering flat jumps, aggressive swimming, and secure swimming techniques, while also practicing rafting, capsizing, and two-man rescue operations. Team rescue strategies and night survival tactics were covered in detail, with a focus on maintaining strong communication and coordination under challenging conditions.

That’s a wrap on our fantastic swift water SAR training session in Taiwan!
Now, we’re ready to dive into rope rescue next! 🧗🏽‍♀️🪢

#SAR #searchandrescue #swiftwater #APAD #APADSriLanka #oneworld

A-PAD Sri Lanka's Search and Rescue (SAR) team con

A-PAD Sri Lanka's Search and Rescue (SAR) team concluded Day 02 of the intensive Indo-Pacific Region Swift Water and Rope Rescue Training Program at the National Fire Agency Training Center, Taiwan.

The team mastered critical whirlpool rescue operations, from survival techniques to coordinated rescue scenarios in a specialized simulation facility, enhancing our capabilities for complex water rescue emergencies. 🌊🦺

#SwiftWaterRescue #A-PADSriLanka #disasterresponse

A-PAD Sri Lanka's Search and Rescue (SAR) team emb

A-PAD Sri Lanka's Search and Rescue (SAR) team embarked on an intensive 14-day training program in Taiwan, joining forces with the National Fire Agency.
The training saw participation from Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. Our first day kicked off with thrilling swift water SAR practices at the stunning Xiuguluan River in Hualien County, where our team tackled river crossings solo and as a group, mastering essential skills like drifting, flat jumps, rafting, swimming in eddy current, boat capsizing, and current navigation.

Through rigorous drills and unwavering teamwork, our rescuers pushed their endurance to the limit while building crucial life-saving expertise. Every challenge conquered at Xiuguluan River brings us one step closer to enhanced disaster preparedness and response. 🌊💪

#SwiftWaterRescue #SAR #NationalFireAgency #A-PAD #disasterpreparedness #Teamwork #trainingadventures

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YOUTUBE

A-PAD Sri Lanka

Five days after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, GEA supported by A-PAD International arrived in response to an international call for assistance. In Naypyidaw, a 26-year-old hotel staff member was rescued from the rubble of the Aye Chan Thar Hotel. The survivor was safely evacuated and is reported to be in good health.

Accredited by the United Nations INSARAG and AFAD, GEA is a Turkish search and rescue NGO and has been a close partner of A-PAD since 2016.

Watch the moment the search and rescue team makes first visual contact with the survivor before carrying out the successful evacuation.

#APAD #GEA #rescue #earthquake #myanmar #searchandrescue #savelives #rescuemission

Mr. Firzan Hashim, Country Director of A-PAD Sri Lanka, highlights the critical role of Civil-Military Coordination in Search and Rescue operations.

Check out the highlights from the 2024 Joint Indo-Pacific Region Swift Water and Rope Rescue Training Program, where 14 members of Sri Lanka’s A-PAD Search and Rescue team teamed up with rescue personnel from Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand. Co-hosted by Taiwan’s National Fire Agency and A-PAD, and supported by the Connecting Business Initiative (CBi), this two-week intensive training pushed participants to their limits in some of the most challenging environments.

Led by internationally certified trainers, the program featured rigorous swift water rescue exercises followed by advanced rope rescue techniques, essential for both survival and emergency rescue operations. This hands-on training goes beyond skill-building—it's about strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing disaster preparedness, and ensuring that when the next crisis strikes, our teams are ready to respond, together.

Watch the future of rescue operations unfold in action!

Reflecting on the past, confronting the present, and shaping the future. This powerful video shown at our symposium captures the devastating impact of the 2004 tsunami and highlights the journey towards resilience and readiness for the challenges ahead.

The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka held its annual international symposium under the theme "Turning the Tide: 20 Years of Tsunami Readiness and Resilience" to commemorate two decades since the tragic 2004 tsunami. This event brought together nearly 200 participants, including diplomats, international organizations, the private and public sectors, NGOs, and the UN.

The symposium provided a platform to reflect on lessons learned, assess current disaster preparedness, and discuss future strategies for enhancing resilience. It also marked the 10-year anniversary of A-PAD Sri Lanka, celebrating a decade of dedicated disaster response and humanitarian efforts.

Ready to Rescue: Strengthening Skills, Saving Lives!

The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Sri Lanka hosted the International Swift Water Search and Rescue (SAR) Level 02 Training for 2024 in Kithulgala from June 25th to 27th. Conducted by A-PAD Japan international instructors, this advanced training enhances the swift water rescue skills of participants from the Tri-forces, civil society, and the private sector. A-PAD ensures that our enhanced SAR team is ready to deploy in times of crisis. Participants mastered essential skills like rope techniques, swimming, and boat handling through rigorous simulations in the challenging waters of the Kelani River. The program not only adheres to international best practices but also strengthens Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and prepares for effective disaster response. The event concluded with a certificate distribution and award ceremony, highlighting the participants' dedication and the program's impact on enhancing Sri Lanka's disaster response capacity.

In a world where unforeseen disasters can strike at any moment, being equipped with essential skills like firefighting and first aid can make all the difference. Recognizing this imperative, on the 7th of March, 2024, Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka (A-PAD SL) took a significant step towards community empowerment by providing basic first aid and CPR training to a total of 1,150 students and 82 teachers from three schools in the Eastern Province of Srilanka, namely, BT/BC Rahumaniya Maha Vidyalaya, BT/BC Macan Markar Central College, and BT/BC Alighar Central College.

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