Colombo: Sri Lanka army said that Mitra Shakti 2019, the two-week long annual joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka has began in Diyatalawa. It has been organised to build military to military co-operation and interoperability between the two armies. It will be conducted at Diyatalawa 1 Gemunu Watch (GW) camp premises from March 26 to April 8 with the participation of 120 Indian Army Jawans and an equal number of Sri Lankan Army personnel.
Troops from 1st Battalion of Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army and Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army would be jointly undertaking the exercise. The contingent of Indian Army personnel, led by Colonel Parthasarathy Roy, Colonel Sombit Gosh, Major Pujam Manhas and Major Rohith Kumar Tripathi arrived in Sri Lanka on March 25.
"The joint annual exercise aims to share knowledge on military tactics, experience, exchange of infantry technicalities, counter terrorism practices, long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP), small group operations, effective deployment of infantry weapons, simulated attacks on terrorist hideouts, suicide bombing, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), etc. between both organizations," Sri Lanka Army said in a statement.
