22nd October 2018 11:01:49 Hours
Mock ambushes, night attacks, escape from landmine and IED explosions, sniper attacks and different sabotage attempts dominated in the past three days (20 - 22 Oct) when the ‘Harmattan - 2’, Field Training Exercise (FTX) of the Army, now underway was proceeding towards Pulmoddai after they started off from Thiriyaya this morning (22).
‘Harmattan - 2’, commenced in Chundikulam on Thursday (18) is designed for overseas bound contingents to orientate to the UN guidelines that have been laid in trouble-torn Mali, for which a Sri Lankan contingent is scheduled to take wings by the end of this year.
The FTX with about 60 vehicles and 400 troops during their overnight stay at Vedithalathivu had to face a simulated night attack as part of the Exercise but it was effectively repulsed by the convoy. The enemy strength was estimated at 25 terrorists.
In another instance, during one more phase of the passage, mock terrorists triggered off a powerful landmine when the convoy reached Oyamaduwa, Nikawewa junction on Sunday (21) morning. However, troops escaped unhurt taking necessary precautions.
Similarly, those mock terrorists, dressed in school uniforms attempted to lay an ambush against the advancing troop convoy but rehearsing troops effectively managed to escape it with confidence after arresting those mock insurgents in Mahadivulwewa.
Meanwhile, troops in the ‘Harmattan - 2’ came under another ambush at Thiriyaya this morning (22) but the troops successfully avoided it. However, an unexpected simulated blast of an IED injured one soldier, training in the Exercise.
Brigadier Jayantha Gunaratne, General Officer Commanding, 55 Division functions as the Exercise Director. latest Running Sneakers | Sneaker & Lifestyle News
