SL, China commence joint Army Exercise

23 June 2015 08:33 am

The first phase of the second joint Sri Lanka Army - People’s Liberation Army ‘Exercise - Silk Route – 2015, was launched on Monday at Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala, the Army said.

‘Exercise - Silk Route - 2015,’ organized by Directorate of Training at the Army Headquarters under three phases focuses largely on weapon handling, VVIP protection study, live firing, lane firing, sniper firing, body protection drills, backup vehicle movement and training, body protection formation, ambush drills, reconnaissance techniques, skill firing, special mission planning, combat tracking techniques, situation training exercise, jungle warfare and basic battle skills, vehicle ambush drills, aircraft and building option training.

Phase 1 would be held (June 22-28) at Commando Regiment (CR) Training School, Uva-Kudaoya, Phase 2 - (June 28-July 5) at CR Regimental Headquarters, Ganemulla and Phase 3 - (July 5 - July 13) at Special Forces Training School at Maduruoya.

The first stage of the ‘Exercise - Silk Route - 2015’ was conducted in China earlier this year from March 29 and April 17 with the participation of 42 Commandos and Special Force soldiers from Sri Lanka, following successful negotiations that got underway between both Sri Lankan and Chinese Armies.

The Chinese group, led by Lieutenant Colonel Qi Qiang, is comprised of 43 Army personnel and a similar number from the Sri Lanka Army’s Commando Regiment and Special Forces is engaged in the Exercise. The closing ceremony of the ‘Exercise - Silk Route - 2015’ is to take place on July 13 at the Special Force Training School.