SLA’s flagship military exercise ‘Diyakawa’ ends tomorrow

The final exercise of the Sri Lanka Army’s (SLA) flagship military exercise ‘Exercise Cormorant Strike X – 2019’ (‘Diyakawa’) themed ‘Critical Engagement’ will be held at the Kuchchaveli beach today.

The SLA has organised its joint mega Tri-Service Field Training Exercise (FTX), which kicked off on 3 September with the participation of over 100 foreign military participants for the 10th consecutive year.

The three-week-long exercise, held with over 100 foreign military participants and observers, 2,400 SLA soldiers, 400 sailors and 200 airmen, was commenced on 3 September.

Secretary Defence General Shantha Kottegoda will be the Chief Guest of the event and the Tri-Forces commanders and the CDS will also participate in the final exercise.

Pakistan Army Special Forces General Officer Commanding Maj. Gen. Hussain Mumtaz had visited the Diyakawa Exercise Headquarters at Minneriya yesterday to witness the 20th day of the Diyakawa military exercise. Pakistan Embassy Defence Advisor Colonel Sajjad Ali and senior military officials had also visited Minneriya exercise HQ. 

Exercise Cormorant Strike – X Exercise Director Maj. Gen. Laksiri Waduge and Commander Regiment Colonel Maj. Gen. Pradeep Silva welcomed the Pakistani high profile military delegation.  

Over the years, this field training exercise, a conceptual notion of the Army has evolved as one of the most consistent and comprehensive training exercises which transfers and shares invaluable military experience and knowledge in a multinational milieu for the benefit of future military aspirants in the next generation and the foreign military participants.

The exercise has covered the Eastern, Central, Western and North Central Provinces and provides a catalyst to build the capacity of Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Army and formulate a theoretical framework for the employment of SOF.

This year’s exercise portrays counter-insurgency scenario with the influence of asymmetrical warfare which has turned out to be the common approach among most non-state actors, extremist groups and appears to be the most likely national and international security threat in the 21st century.

The exercise also largely focuses on joint planning and coordination, pre-engagement training, staff functions, real-time role-play and execution of special operations within the given framework.

Using SOF tactics, Commandos, Special Forces, Air Mobile and Mechanised Infantry Regiment troops of the Army, Sailors and Airmen would actively participate in this exercise and the SOF will deploy troops under command on special operations tactics, techniques and procedures in the Operational Framework (Deep, Close and Rear) during the Exercise.

Foreign military participants and observers from Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Russia, US, Bangladesh, China, France, India, Iran, Pakistan, UK, and Zambia have so far confirmed their participation. Through the execution of 20 special operation missions, the participants are expected to stick to the above mentioned core tasks throughout the FTX.