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ASIA PACIFIC ALLIANCE FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT (APADM)

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【A-PAD Sri Lanka】 Search-and-Rescue Team Rescues a Fallen Victim

2026.01.20

On January 12, 2026, a foreign tourist fell off a cliff approximately 100 meters high at Little Adam’s Peak in Uva Province, and the Flying Ravana Adventure Park Rescue Team was dispatched. The two Flying Ravana members who led the rescue were Oshada Madushanka and Rangana Dahanayake, who are also members of the A-PAD Sri Lanka Search-and-Rescue (SAR) team.

0112-3 (Successfully retrieving the victim in stretcher)

Rescue Operation (January 12, 2026)

At Little Adam’s Peak, a popular tourist destination, another accident occurred last month in December when a foreign tourist fell off a cliff. The Flying Ravana Rescue Team carried out that rescue as well.

20251218_Rescuers preparing to descend to victim’s location

Preparing for rescue operation (December 18, 2025)

 

In challenging, rocky terrain, rescue teams successfully saved several individuals using technical rope rescue procedures mastered during A-PAD Sri Lanka’s SAR training. Despite difficult access points, the teams executed the extractions safely and transferred all survivors to the hospital for treatment.

0112-4 (High angle anchor setup for stretcher rescue)

Setting up a high-angle anchor for rescue operations (January 12, 2026)

In November 2025, Oshada and Rangana participated in the Indo-Pacific Joint Rope Rescue Training and Urban Search and Rescue, jointly organized by A-PAD and Taiwan’s National Fire Administration (NFA), in Taiwan. The skills and judgment they developed through training in Taiwan and previous SAR training in A-PAD Sri Lanka led to safe and swift rescues in the actual field.

Regarding the rescue operation, Rangana said, “The knowledge and practical skills I gained from the rope rescue training at A-PAD Sri Lanka were a great help in carrying out rescue operations safely and efficiently in difficult terrain.”

Rangana Dahanayaka_A-PAD SAR Member

Rangana Dahanayake

Oshada Madushanka_A-PAD SAR Member

Oshada Madushanka

A-PAD Sri Lanka remains committed to maintaining and strengthening professional rescue capabilities to ensure rapid, effective disaster response.

Additionally, recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwa are still ongoing, with over 180,000 people forced to take refuge in evacuation centers or the homes of acquaintances (Disaster Management Center, as of January 16, 2026). Mid to long-term support is still needed in the affected areas to help rebuild their livelihood. 

A-PAD Sri Lanka will continue its support activities in collaboration with various sectors and partner organizations to save more lives in less time.

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