Indian Contingent for ‘Mithra Shakti’ Arrives

A contingent of 45 Indian Army personnel, including 4 officers arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport this morning (23) to participate in the 4th consecutive joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakthi’ between Sri Lanka and India.

The Indian contingent for ‘Mitra Shakthi’, headed by Major Nitesh Bhatnagar was welcomed by Colonel E.A.P Ediriweera and Colonel K.R.K.K.T Bandara, Deputy Exercise Directors.

The 4th India-Sri Lanka joint training Exercise, ‘Mitra Shakthi’, designed to enhance understanding of transnational terrorism, inter-operability skills, conduct of joint tactical operations, sharing of each other’s experiences, etc, begins at Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) Regimental Headquarters premises on Monday (24).

A contingent of 45 Indian Army personnel, including 6 officers participate in the two-week long Exercise, Mitra Shakthi - 2016 while the Sri Lanka Army is represented by Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) troops of equal number.

On close supervision of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Brigadier A.P.I Fernando works as the Exercise Director while Colonel G.M.C.K.B Ekanayake and Colonel K.R.K.K.T Bandara function as Deputy Exercise Directors. The Indian contingent participating in the Exercise is commanded by Major Rakesh Roushan of the Indian Army.

Brigadier Sujeeth Shivaji Patil and instructors, Lieutenant Colonel Hemant Kumar Belwal and Major Bhaskar Talwar of the Indian Army as observers will evaluate the Exercise during the final phase of the training before the final day (Nov 6).

The annual training programme, Mitra Shakthi, held earlier in India two times and one time at Commando Regiment Training School, Kuda Oya has contributed largely to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, understanding and bonds of neighbourly relations between both services.