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.

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