Preparatory Phases of forthcoming 'Ex-Cormorant Strike V-2014' Now, On

The preparatory phases of the annual joint military ‘Exercise - Cormorant Strike V - 2014’, with more than 2500 tri-service personnel participating, together with foreign military participants and observers, have now set in  from Mannar, Wanni, Matale and several other locations in the East under the command of Brigadier A.M.R Dharmasiri, Exercise Director.

This mock Field Training Exercise (FTX), organized by the Army for the fifth consecutive year in close cooperation with Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force  has been designed for deployment of their troops in a war milieu of Special Operations and planned for conduct of joint operations as one team, using manoeuvrist approach, encompassing planning, execution and command.

The final execution phase of the Exercise proper with participating foreign representatives begins on 2 & 3 September 2014 and continues till 23 September covering a vast patch of island’s jungle areas while simultaneous mock seaborne and airborne operations are expected to join with Army troops for onslaughts against enemy strongholds.

The Exercise with Army Commando (CR) Regiment and Special Forces (SF) Regiment troops, integrated with Navy and Air Force Special Forces, aims to enhance special operation capabilities and maintain combat readiness at all levels.

It also focuses on planning, preparations, formulations, coordination, command, control, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP), execution of Special Operations within given frameworks and is organized by Army Directorate of Training.

The whole concept of having such joint military Exercises was mooted by Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa a few years ago with a view to transmitting and sharing the sea of experiences the Sri Lanka Army gathered in successfully conducting the world’s biggest humanitarian operation.

Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, contributing to the initial preparatory phases of the Exercise, maintains that the Sri Lanka Army, having defeated the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit, should sustain the status quo in relation to national security concerns and be always well-geared to take on any future challenge against the country or her people as the most prominent defender of the nation.

Brig R.G. Upali Rajapaksa, Exercise Deputy Director, Brig H. H.A. S. P Senarathna, Special Operation Commander,  Lt Col W.T.W.G Ihalage, Exercise Brigade Commander Special Forces and Col D.M.U.G Bandara, Exercise Brigade Commander, Commando have already moved to respective areas for initial preparatory arrangements.