06th December 2025 10:12:06 Hours
The term "Counter-Revolutionary Warfare" encompasses a range of strategies employed by militaries worldwide to train soldiers for combat in hostile environments and extreme conditions. The Sri Lanka Military Academy offers this vital experience to its trainee Officer Cadets during their final term, by conducting their final Field Exercise 'WANABAMBARA' in two phases. From 22 Oct 25 to 15 Nov 25, the Officer Cadets of Intake 93, 94B, SC 23, 62 (V), Lady Intake 20 and Lady Intake 19 (V) participated in the Exercise, conducted at the forest reserves of Omanugala, Baron's Cap, Walamandiya, Nelugala, and Aranaganwila.
The initial phase of the Exercise was conducted in Special Forces Training School - Maduruoya, which included a comprehensive curriculum, featuring physical conditioning, Endurance Training Tests, circuit training, confidence-building exercises, rappelling, aerial rope, climbing techniques, intensive live firing drills, live fire-and-move, live lane firing, bunker busting, room entering drill, urban disengagement drill, urban obstacle course, air mobile training, demonstrations on harbouring and breaking contacts. Additional activities of this Exercise included battle inoculation, survival skills and phase mastery training.
The second phase focused on deepening the trainees' understanding on CRW by allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios that demanded quick thinking and adaptation. This phase included a series of activities such as demonstrations, discussions, Exercise Giant Step (Long March), practicing of harbouring techniques, conduct of day and night ambushes, raids and Casualty Evacuation Operations (CASEVAC). The Officer Cadets also engaged in combat tracking, link-up operations and company harbouring routines, while ensuring the all-round protection of the Dropping Zone for Heli-dropping of ration packets.
The training phase reached its culmination with the "Final Countdown" operation, after which a comprehensive debriefing was conducted to reflect on the experiences gained and the lessons learned by the Exercise. Marking the conclusion of the Exercise 'WANABAMBARA', the cadets took part in an entertaining campfire, providing a fitting and memorable end to the successful completion of their final exercise.
During the Exercise 'WANABAMBARA', the Chief Instructor of the SLMA, together with the Head of the Training Team and the Senior Instructors of the Military Training Wing extended consistent guidance, supervision and professional direction to ensure that the Exercise was executed to the highest training standards while achieving the stipulated objectives.
At the final stage of the Exercise, Major General MJRS Medagoda RSP USP ndc psc IG, the Commandant of the SLMA and the Commanding Officer of the Officer Cadets Wing paid a visit to the training sites to oversee proper execution of the Exercise as well as accomplishment of its educational and training objectives successfully.
