The Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) successfully completed an oil spill emergency response training, which was conducted from January 5 to 16, 2025.

The training programme concluded with a ceremony at the Mini Sports Complex in Hulhumalé on January 16, 2025, with Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, Commandant of the MNDF Coast Guard, attending as the special guest.

A total of seventeen sailors from the MNDF Coast Guard, ten officers from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, three employees from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and two employees from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy participated in the training.

This programme was carried out in collaboration with the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the British High Commission in the Maldives.

The training covered key areas such as International Maritime Organization (IMO) Levels 1, 2, and 3, along with Incident Command System (ICS) modules 100, 200, and 300.

Additionally, participants were trained in advanced techniques, including aerial surveillance and shoreline cleanup assessment, to enhance their ability to effectively manage oil spill incidents.

The ceremony was attended by key officials, including EPA Director Ibrahim Naeem, Brigadier General Hussain Ibrahim from the Department of International Defence Cooperation and Policy, and Colonel Mohamed Rizmy Waleed, the Principal Director of the Coast Guard.