Gammadda Launches Search & Rescue Boats to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Flood Response

COLOMBO (News 1st); When floodwaters rise, a single boat can become the line between life and death.

In a major step towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s disaster-response capacity, The Gammadda Movement today launched two state-of-the-art Search and Rescue boats powered by high-performance engines, enabling swift deployment in floods and other water-based emergencies.

The two inflatable rescue boats (IRB’s), which meet all international search & rescue standards, will be operated through a groundbreaking partnership with Sri Lanka Life Saving, marking a major investment in future preparedness after the painful lessons of Cyclone Ditwah.

The two IRB’s, both manufactured in Sri Lanka, were ceremonially unveiled by the Chairman of CMG, Sashi Rajamahendran.

"People trust Gammadda to respond during times of disaster and this means we must keep improving how we respond when communities need us. With over 25 years of experience in disaster response, this step we’ve taken will strengthen this ability”, noted Chevaan Daniel, the Leader of the Gammadda Movement.

Asanka Nanayakkara of the Sri Lanka Life Saving Association said, “We are proud to partner with Gammadda. Ours is a long-standing relationship built over many years of serving people in times of disaster. These IRBs are equipped not only for search and rescue, but also for service delivery — a critical capability we did not previously have.”

The need for such assets was made devastatingly clear in the aftermath of Ditwah, when vast stretches of the country were cut off by floodwaters and landslides, leaving families stranded, relief routes broken, and rescue teams racing against time. In such situations, even a single rescue boat can mean the difference between survival and tragedy for hundreds of people.

Recognising that reality early, Gammadda moved swiftly in the wake of the disaster not only to deliver aid, but also to think beyond the immediate emergency.

The commissioning of these two Search & Rescue boats was part of that forward-looking response: a decision rooted in one simple truth — Sri Lanka cannot wait for the next disaster to realise what it lacks.

From the earliest hours of the national crisis triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, Gammadda evolved into far more than a relief drive. It became a broad, people-powered response mechanism that operated by land, air and water.

As roads disappeared under water and entire communities became inaccessible, trucks carrying dry rations, drinking water, medicine, bedding and other essentials were dispatched to affected districts. Where road access failed, boats were deployed with partner organisations to reach marooned families across flooded terrain. When both road and water routes were severely constrained, aid was also moved by air, with relief flights helping push life-saving supplies into some of the hardest-hit areas.

That multi-layered response did not end when the floodwaters receded.

Gammadda’s work then transitioned into a longer and more demanding phase: helping affected communities recover with dignity. Through the Care & Dare initiative, the movement established a structured recovery model that took essential services directly into disaster-hit communities. Across multiple camps, families were supported not only with food and relief items, but with healthcare, sanitation assistance, nutrition support, documentation help, legal guidance and other practical services needed to move from survival towards stability.

This is what makes today’s launch significant. These boats are not symbolic. They are operational assets born from hard experience. They reflect lessons learned in the field — that speed matters, access matters, and preparedness saves lives. Gammadda also expressed its deep appreciation to the Minderoo Foundation, whose support made this initiative possible. Without that backing, the commissioning of these rescue boats would not have been achievable.

Minderoo Foundation’s support has already played a transformative role in helping Gammadda expand its disaster response from emergency relief into sustained recovery. Today’s launch adds another critical layer to that effort — preparedness for the next emergency, before it happens. As Sri Lanka faces increasingly volatile weather and recurring flood risks, the launch of these two Search & Rescue boats sends a clear message: response must not only be compassionate; it must also be capable.

For Gammadda, this is the continuation of a journey that began in crisis — from urgent search and rescue, to immediate relief, to recovery and rebuilding — and now, to stronger readiness for the future.