Colombo. The fourth edition of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI 2016’ began at Sinha Regimental Centre in Ambepussa, Sri Lanka October 24. The exercise would end November 6.
The main focus of this edition of the joint exercise is to enhance inter-operability while carrying out Counter Insurgency (CI)/Counter Terrorism (CT) operations under the United Nations Mandate. A comprehensive training programme spanning fourteen days has been drawn up for the purpose.
The Indian Army contingent had reached Sri Lanka October 23. The Indian Contingent was represented by a platoon from the RAJPUTANA RIFLES Regiment and the Sri Lankan Army was represented by a platoon from the Sinha Regiment.
The Opening Ceremony was held October 24 during which the troops of both contingents participated in a ceremonial parade. Brig BL Ratnayake, Commandant of Sri Lankan Sinha Regimental Centre from the Sri Lankan Army also addressed the troops.
In the initial two stages, both armies would get familiar with the respective methodology of such operations, each other’s arms and equipment and the command and control systems. It will then graduate towards tactical understanding to enhance inter operability while carrying out Counter Insurgency (CI)/Counter Terrorism (CT) operations.
The previous exercise with the Sri Lankan Army was successfully conducted in the month of September 2015 at Pune in India. “Mitra Shakti†series of bilateral exercises is one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Sri Lanka since 2013.
