Sri Lankan and foreign troops join ‘Cormorant Strike III’
The multi-national Army-organised Exercise ‘Cormorant Strike III’,
the 16 day joint exercise conducted on an amphibious setting in the
Eastern region, drew to a close on Sunday.
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The multi-national Army-organised
Exercise ‘Cormorant Strike II’, the 16 day joint exercise
conducted on an amphibious setting in the Eastern region,
drew to a close on Sunday. Pictures by Samantha Weerasiri |
Nearly 2,000 tri-service personnel of Sri Lankan Armed Forces and 40
foreign military representatives from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the
Maldives and India (observers) took part in the event that began on
Monday.
Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and a host of
tri-service senior most officers witnessed a simulating rescue
operation, launched by joint amphibious task forces, made up of
inducting and de-inducting troops of the Special Forces, Naval and Air
Force as one of the final major components in the event.
This multi - national exercise, which saw its birth as the brainchild
of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa two years ago, incorporates a
range of new dimensions, associated with regional co-operation and
recurrent and emerging threats of terrorism and other peripheral aerial
and naval surveillance.
Sunday's mock taking of high value targets at Punnikuda area after
intense surveillance, reconnaissance saw eight-member Commando teams
through airborne and seaborne operations, making amphibious insertions
into enemy strongholds, supported by para jumps.
During the second segment of the day’s highlights, elite Special
Forces teams at Thalaitivu, Vakarai conducted a multi - pronged attack
on a makeshift Naval Headquarters, mobilising troops from different
directions as one of the most elaborate and precise ‘target’ attacks,
well-executed in the exercise.
Army Commandos and Special Forces as strategic forces that come
directly under the command of the Army Chief made up of the major
component of the whole exercise, managed and directed by Brigadier Ruwan
Kulathunga, Director in Charge of the Exercise ‘Cormorant Strike III’.
Nearly 400 soldiers and 150 Air Force personnel threw their weight
behind the success of the event.
Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters, including Y12 fixed wing aircraft
and Navy’s Amphibious Task Force with the involvement of SLNS landing
ship tanks and inshore patrol craft were tasked with carrying out major
amphibious landings at first light on days of training.
This was the third successive exercise organised by the Army.
Courtesy: Army Media Unit
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