‘Cormorant Strike- 2019’ troops rescue ship and captives during first mock exercise
September 05, 2019The Sri Lanka Army organized, Field Training Exercise (FTX), ‘Cormorant Strike - 2019’ which began at Minneriya on Tuesday (03 September) is in progress in the Eastern region. Army media states, that Tri Services troops taking part in the Exercise on Wednesday (04) rehearsed a mock operation at the Ashroff Jetty at the Trincomalee port in order to rescue a ship and its crew held by terrorists.
The mock operation saw Army and Navy troops rescue the 22-member crew, mostly foreigners from terrorists hold. Commando troops, together with Special Boat Squadron (SBS) of the Navy, carried out the mock operation with the participation of 6 eight-man teams and sniffer dogs to search for explosives or weapons of the terrorists. A Bell 212 helicopter was on air for surveillance while the Commando teams launched the operation to free the captives, unharmed.
A combined Tri Forces participation of 2400 Army, 400 Navy and 200 Air Force personnel is taking part in the exercise maneuvers at this annual joint Tri-Services Field Training Exercise (FTX) being conducted for the 10th consecutive year.
A foreign participation of over 100 military representatives and observers from a number of countries including Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Russia, Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria and Zambia are attending the ’Exercise Cormorant Strike X- 2019’, this year.
Exercise Director, Major General Laksiri Waduge, senior Tri Forces officers were present to witness the day’s proceedings.
