Published on - 6/22/2004
(Reporting directly from Kukuleganga)
Tranquil settings and environs at Kukuleganga, where the first-ever Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL) is now a reality, appeared unusually disturbed on Tuesday (22) as the ongoing UN sponsored Multinational Platoon Exercise-3 “Sama Gamana†(MPE-3) entered its final lap with dramatic Run Phase Situational Training Exercises (STX) that were launched.
Media personalities from Colombo-based Sinhala, Tamil and English media, both print and electronic witnessed this morning how contingents of participating nations, i.e. Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, USA and Sri Lanka, train their men for conduct of Disarm, Demobilisation and Reintegration, Distribution of Foods and Relief Materials, Convoys, Checkpoints, Patrolling and also the detection of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Each country contingent underwent this training respectively.
The burst of sudden gunfire, hovering of Air Force helicopters overhead and inching of armoured cars with UN emblem on them towards Kelinkanda-Kukuleganga certainly awakened the villagers there to this \"nightmare\" though at least some of them still knew that is was going to be a military exercise.
Peacekeeping training, as Chief UN adviser, Lt Col John O\' Derick (retired) rightly maintains, is certainly something to do with the security of the people. So the people\'s participation was inevitable in such manoeuvers. In response to the Army's need, villagers from Kelinkanda, Molkawa, Makeliyaella, all suburbs of Kukuleganga, on their own volunteered to help the Army to conduct its practical Run Phase sessions as training ran into full swing on Tuesday with body search, distribution, civil disturbances, exercise, etc. \"They were extremely curious, helpful and marvelously positive. Some did their \"acting\" tremendously well, we could not believe their dramatization abilities,\" says an Officer of the Royal Nepalese Army. A total of about fifty civilians from those underprivileged hamlets extended their full support to those training practices irrespective of their daily commitments.The IPSOTSL, the novel wing added to the Sri Lanka Army will remain a living memory to the credit of thousands of Army personnel who toiled day and night, believe it or not, to make it a reality within a span of 45 days after the location for the training site was confirmed. The event is co-hosted by the Army and US Army Pacific Command.
Founding of the IPSOTSL under the aegis of the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lt Gen L.P Balagalle will go down in the annals of the Sri Lanka Army as a milestone in terms of its global impact. Major General Parami Kulathunge as Director General, General Staff with unfailing support of the Director Training Brigadier Srinath Rajapakse took the cue from their Boss and, untiringly got up steam for its reality. Exercise Director cum Commandant designate IPSOTSL Lt. Col. Nandana Senadheera took the challenge and went ahead with the project until it met with success, just ten days ago. \"There could be shortcomings but they are no bar to our forward march. A task was assigned and it was done, that\'s it. Benefits of it are with Army\" adds Lt Col. Senadheera. Not least, a bunch of Colonels, Lt Colonels , Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeant Majors, Sergeants and hundreds of Other Ranks joined hands together with their superiors to realize their objective, to found the IPSOTSL on 12th June 2004.
Over 180 foreign soldiers, including UN observes and one Thai observer while enjoying the esprit de corps and renowned hospitability of Sri Lankan soldiers prove that Sri Lankan experience is one of the best lands for such UN training even in the future. Except for a very few instances, almost all foreign troops are doing medically fine. “Compared to casualties and sicknesses that usually occur in such mass contingents overseas, the number in Sri Lanka is all negligible,†says the Thai observer who spoke to this website. Medical center at the IPSOTSL meanwhile confirms what he says very well. \"During past ten days (June 12-22), only four cases (3 US soldiers and 1 Bangladesh soldier) of stomach-aches were reported among foreigners. It could be due to many reasons, ranging from water, change of food habits and timings, introduction of new food items and gastro-enteritis complications, etc. Four others were referred to Colombo medical authorities. Unfortunately two out of them needed clinical intervention due to appendicitis and prick injury. The other two were sent back after treatment was given to their chest pain problems and history of numbness,\" says the chief Medical Officer on site at IPSOTSL.Rest and Recreation facilities and programmes for all participating nations are in abundance here and they are very well planned almost on a daily basis. To this date a number of music bands including the Navy, Air Force, Police and the Army thrilled them with rhythms of their taste and dancers, depicting artistic and cultural diversity of this island-nation. Cross country races, volley-ball tournaments, marathon races, etc coupled with sight seeing tours during their stay would certainly help increase and sustain their morale and the commitment to the cause.
