PATS 2024 Gold Medalists Honoured by Commander of the Army

The Sri Lanka Army team that clinched a historic gold medal at the 7th Pakistan Army Team Spirit Competition (PATS) 2024, arrived at the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on Thursday (07 March). The team, consisting of 3 Officers and 8 Other Ranks, proudly presented their victory symbol, the gold medal, to the Commander of the Army.

Commending their exceptional performance, the Commander of the Army awarded each member of the team a token of appreciation. This prestigious honour signifies their outstanding contribution and dedication. The Commander of the Army played a pivotal role in this victory by providing the necessary guidance and instructions, molding the team into a force capable of competing with international counterparts. His vision, leadership, and unwavering support empowered the team to reach their full potential and achieve this remarkable accomplishment.

Prior to embarking on the international challenge, the team underwent an intensive one-month training programme at the Infantry Training Centre in Minneriya, Sri Lanka, under the directions of Major General K.P.S.A. Fernando RWP RSP ndu, Director General, Directorate of Infantry and meticulous supervision of Major General W.B.J.K. Wimalarathne RWP RSP, Commandant of the Infantry Training Centre. This training schedule equipped the team with the necessary skills and preparedness to excel in the demanding competition.

The Sri Lanka Army team's victory marks a significant milestone, as they had previously secured only 04 silver and 01 bronze medals in past PATS competitions. This year, the competition, held from 25 - 27 February 2024 in National Counter terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pakistan, with the participation of 22 teams from 12 nations, including the USA, Thailand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The PATS Competition is renowned for its mission and task-oriented exercises, demanding the highest standards of physical fitness and soldierly attributes. It aims to provide a challenging patrolling exercise to assess and enhance tactical and mental abilities. The competition was transformed into an international platform in 2016 to share experiences with friendly countries. Since 2016 Army troops participated in the competition except the year 2023.

The essence of the competition lies in perseverance, acclaimed through team spirit, as the participating teams undergo a series of tactical scenarios and tests aimed at enhancing their tactical and mental abilities. The mission involves a reconnaissance patrol infiltrating terrorist-dominated terrain, covering a distance of 50-60 kilometers and confronting 14-16 tactical scenarios. The ultimate objective is to carry out Close Target Reconnaissance (CTR) of terrorist locations/training camps and extract maximum possible information while remaining undetected.

The unwavering dedication and exceptional skills of the following individuals brought home the gold medals:

Major A.D. Edirisooriya psc of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
Lieutenant M.D. Weerakkodi of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Lieutenant R.D.V.P.T. Rajapaksha of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
Sergeant N.T. Kasun of Gemunu Watch
Sergeant A.B.S.B. Herath of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
Corporal A.D.M.A. Bandara of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Lance Corporal G.G.S. Dissanayake of Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Private P.W.K.D. Lakmal of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
Private E.G.P.P.K. Egodawela of Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Private M.A.P.S. Madusanka of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
Private W.M.N.H. Kumara of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment