Sri Lanka and China on Monday (13) concluded a joint army exercise at the Special Forces (SF) Training School at Maduruoya.

The 43-member group of Chinese military officers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Qi Qiang of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) joined hands together with a similar number from the Sri Lanka Army’s Commando Regiment and Special Forces in the ‘Exercise - Silk Route - 2015’ which began on June 22 after a brief ceremony at the Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala. 

Organized by Directorate of Training at the Army Headquarters,  it was conducted under three phases at Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS), Uva-Kudaoya, Commando Regiment Headquarters, Ganemulla and Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Maduruoya, focusing largely on weapon handling, VVIP protection study, live firing, lane firing, sniper firing, body protection drills, backup vehicle movement and training, body protection formation, ambush drills, reconnaissance techniques, skill firing, special mission planning, combat tracking techniques, situation training exercise, jungle warfare and basic battle skills, vehicle ambush drills, aircraft and building option training, etc. 

Commander of the Army at the main entrance to the Special Forces Training School warmly received Yi Xianliang, Chinese Ambassador and requested him to have a walk through the demonstration site where the officers in the Exercise presented a string of drills and exercise features. 

Several stunning mock demonstrations that displayed by way of raids, operations, combat rider skills, motorcade drills, ambushes and other training modules thrilled the spectators before the closing ceremony got underway after playing national anthems of both Sri Lanka and China. 
            

Award of medals and certificates to the participants took place afterwards, headed by the Chief Guest and the Commander of the Army as all eyes remained glued to the achievers in the Exercise.   

Towards the end of the day’s proceedings, the whole joint Exercise turned more memorable with the exchange of mementoes and country flags by both Armies. Before the formal announcement of the closure of the ‘Exercise-Silk Route 2015’, an officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese Ambassador made a few remarks and commended the Sri Lanka Army for its meticulous planning and the conduct of the whole Exercise to the best satisfaction of everyone. Commander of the Army also made a few observations. Exercise Director raised the vote of thanks.  
 

Major General Sumedha Perera, Colonel Commandant - Special Forces, Major General Prasanna De Silva, Colonel Commandant - Commando Regiment, Major General Janaka Walgama, Commander, Security Force Headquarters-East (SFHQ-E), Brigadier Aruna Jayasekara, Director Training, Commandant, SFTS and senior officers attended the closing ceremony.

The first phase of the ‘Exercise - Silk Route - 2015’ was conducted in China earlier this year between March 29 and April 17 with the participation of 42 Commandos and Special Force soldiers from Sri Lanka, following successful negotiations that got underway between both Sri Lankan and Chinese Armies.