MEGA ‘EXERCISE - CORMORANT STRIKE XI - 2021’ BEGINS

The eleventh joint Tri-service Mega Field Training Exercise (FTX) ‘Exercise - Cormorant Strike XI - 2021’, one of the notable annual projects, organized by the Army with the participation of foreign military representatives set out this morning (3) at Minneriya Operational Headquarters at Infantry Training Center, Minneriya after a briefing delivered by the Exercise Director, Major General Harendra Ranasinghe, together with the Deputy Ex-Director Major General Anil Samarasiri, General Officer Commanding, 65 Division and other stakeholders.

The preparatory induction ceremony of the ‘Exercise’ started this morning (3) where a representative gathering of participants had assembled for discussions before the Exercise proper at ground level formally begins on Wednesday (4).The 'Exercise Cormorant Strike' is the premier Field Training Exercise (FTX) of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

This year's Field Training Exercise (FTX) setting has been developed under the guidance of Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) General Shavendra Silva after a few rounds of extensive consultations and discussions.

Meticulous operational plans are to be closely executed under the close supervision of the Exercise Director, Major General Harendra Ranasinghe and a special committee, composed of battle-hardened veterans. The Exercise will be spearheaded in general areas of Mannar, Wilpattu, Arippu, Thunukkai, Vavunikulam, Nedunkerni, Chundikulam, Nayaru, Thiriyaya, Nilaveli, Thoppur, Ilankanthai, Vakarai, Thonithattumadu, Narakamulla, Kanchikudichchiaru, Chenkalady, Dambulla, Moragahakanda, Meemure, Colombo, Dikowita and will continue until 25th September 2021 before the closing ceremony gets underway on 26 September 2021.

A total of 2846 participants, including foreign troops as observers or contributors take part in the Field Training Exercise (FTX) ‘Exercise - Cormorant Strike XI- 2021’. The inauguration of the ‘Exercise - Cormorant Strike XI - 2021’ at the Infantry Training Centre, Minneriya was held virtually through Zoom technology, with the attendance of the Director General General Staff, Director Training, Director Operations, Special Forces Brigade troops, Commando Brigade troops, Navy and Air Force troops.