India and Sri Lanka holds ‘Mitra Shakti’ military exercise in Ampara

The two-week long joint military exercise involving India and Sri Lanka, ‘Mitra Shakti’ concluded recently. In the last few days, forces from both sides participated in operational drills focussed on possible terrorist scenarios. 

Army officials said that these drills stressed on coordination and joint battle procedures.

Key Highlights

• Focussing on counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations, an Infantry company from both countries participated in the exercise. Brigadier Alok Chandra from the Indian side and Brigadier Ajith Pallawela from the Sri Lankan side were the military observers for the exercise.

• An Army officer told “The first few days of the exercise focused on compatibility and interoperability between the two contingents. They got to know each others’ working styles and learnt about the weaponry in use.

• As the exercise progressed, the focus shifted to the pivotal point of this effort — the counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations. Lectures, discussions and war game exercises were held on possible terror situations in various settings.”

• The purpose of the exercise is to share these experiences and apply them to the current global threat posed by terrorist organisations. In a joint exercise, this sharing happens at various levels, right from the leadership to the last soldier who is on the ground.

• The exercise is very important for military ties between the two countries in the backdrop of the growing influence of China in the Indian Ocean region.

SOURCE: The Indian Express, Livemint

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