Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, intending to formally thank all those who worked hard to make the ongoing ‘Exercise - Cormorant Strike IV – 2013’, called at the Minneriya Army Cantonment on Monday (23) after witnessing several final training segments of the special operations of Special Forces, including an attack on a Naval point, supported by Kfirs, the previous day at Challitivu, close to Vakarai in the East.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake early morning on Monday (23) then witnessed another final special operation of the Commando Brigade with a fair member of foreigners joining the mock attack on a hideout of the hypothetical ‘Red Force’ radar point with the help of MI 24 and MIG fighting jets at Punnaikudah. The Commander was flanked by several senior officers including Major General Sumedha Perera, Major General Lal Perera and a few others.
During a brief interaction with Media personnel present around Punnaikudah beach, the Commander outlined the distinct objective behind such training of Special Forces which are a part of any country’s dignity and pride. ‘As new challenges corresponding to both the region and the world, are developing from time to time, any Army in the world, for that matter need to be well-prepared to face any eventuality. So these special operations at all times are vital not only as far as internal security is concerned but also security concerns outside one’s country. This year’s Exercise was well managed and meticulously planned with those objectives in mind,’ the Commander remarked.
Afterwards, at the closing ceremony at Minneriya, the Commander posed for a group photo and pinned para wings on those para jumpers who took part in the Exercise. Afterwards, at the invitation of the Exercise Director Brigadier Piyal Wickremaratne, Commander of the Army, appreciating the participation of all local and foreign military personnel in the Exercise, gave away certificates of participation as tokens of memory and goodwill.
A brief address delivered to the occasion by the Commander of the Army underlined the importance of these types of intermittent training exercises to all the Armies. He also told the participants that this would be a very important platform for sharing of one another’s experiences in various operational scenarios. Here follows his full speech;
“It gives me pleasure to have been able to speak to you, the distinguished, professionally competent gathering of officers completing their mission in the ‘Cormorant Strike IV’ for the fourth consecutive year.
At the outset, let me congratulate all of you on the successful completion of the Joint Services Special Operation Field Training Exercise ‘Cormorant Strike IV - 2013’.
The Special Operations Forces of any country, as you all know, mostly play a significant role in the provision of security and maintenance of Peace. They are the elite military outfits, organized with specialized training and equipment, structured for the purpose of specifically designated tasks to infiltrate into hostile territory through land, sea, or air.
Moreover, the Special Operations Forces are trained with an array of rigorous, strong, and unique training schedules to take up any challenge during the battle of hostile missions.
Basically, they rely on individual and small units with specialized, often unconventional combat skills applied with adaptability, improvisation, innovation and self-reliance.
Even though, the Special Operations teams are organized in small operational groups, frequently they need joint services’ support and coordination to achieve successful accomplishment.
The uniqueness of the Special Operations Forces is that they need continuous training, development and rehearsals in maintaining the operational readiness, skills and capabilities as is the case in any military outfit.
After conclusion of the Humanitarian Operations in Sri Lanka Army should sustain its status quo in relation to national security concerns and should always be well-geared to take on any future threats of the country and the people.
Role of Special Operation Forces is vital to face any form of external or internal aggression to safeguard the territorial integrity and to maintain the national security.
So, “Exercise Cormorant Strike” the Joint Services Field annual Exercise was planned and executed to reach those goals.
The Ex Cormorant strike is the largest field exercise in the country, which conducts for specialised operations forces to maintain their highest physical efficiency and specialization in special operational tactics, techniques, procedures, and skills, to be employed for specialized tasks which may come in handy whenever the security of the country is threatened.
This exercise encompasses joint planning, execution of joint services special operations, and exercising commanders for their command and control skills with the staff and preparing elite units to work together as one team along with sister services to archive success in joint mission within the framework of national security.
Today I am very much proud and happy to state that this fourth Consecutive exercise marks yet another significant landmark in the history of the Sri Lanka Army for developing it to a Multinational Joint services Special Operations Field Training Exercise to fulfil the requirements of the Army and consequently the Nation.
Achievements of this Exercise are multifarious;
a. We have so far been able to train more than 2700 officers and elite soldiers in various kinds of special operations.
b. We were able to prepare elite forces commanders at all levels to exercise command and control and decision-making in changing scenarios.
c. Further we were able to exercise elite forces in the aspects of the conduct of integrated land, sea and air operations within the concepts of various special operations.
d. Also, it was able to familiarize with the capabilities and limitations of the resources held by support arms, services and sister services.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Commander of the Navy and Commander of the Air Force for the cordial cooperation and extensive support, extended through their men and assets for the successful completion of the exercise, without which the exercise wouldn‘t have been a success.
I take this opportunity to admire our foreign officers and their contribution. I am particularly grateful to friendly foreign countries for accepting our invitation and sending observers and active participants for the exercise. It was certainly an exchange of experience and military training modules of battle preparedness where all parties are benefited.
I am sure that members of the friendly foreign countries would have gained and exchanged their knowledge and skills with wide experience of Sri Lankan Special Operations Forces.
Finally, I must appreciate the untiring efforts of the Exercise Director and his staff for the successful completion of the exercise.
I wish, all of you, all the very best.
Thank you Gentlemen”
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