Colombo, March 26 (newsin.asia): In a solemn ceremony on Tuesday, the Indian Army contingent which is here for the Indo-Sri Lanka exercise Mitra Shakti-VI, paid homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Memorial.
The ceremony organized in a befitting manner by the Sri Lankan Army saw Col Parthasarathy Roy, the Indian Army Contingent Commander and other officers and Junior Commissioned Officers laying wreaths at the memorial that is dedicated to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who participated in the IPKF- Op Pawan on the island nation from 1987 to 1990.
Earlier in the day the Indian Army contingent, which will participate in the sixth edition of the Indo- Sri Lanka Joint exercise Mitra Shakti, arrived at Colombo by an Indian Air Force aircraft from Hyderabad. They were given a warm reception by Brig HPNK Jayapathirana RSP and other officers of Sri Lanka Army.
The contingent was thereafter taken to Diyatalawa in Badulla district of Sri Lanka. The Indian Army contingent which comprises a company group from 1st Battalion of the Bihar Regiment (BATALIK) and a similar strength from the 1st Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army, will undertake a 14-day joint training exercise.
Senior military observers and dignitaries of the Sri Lankan Army will be witnessing the validation phase of the exercise that will commence tomorrow at Diyatalawa. The exercise is being conducted from March 26 to April 9.
(The featured image at the top shows the Indian contingent in the MITRA SHAKTI VI exercise with the Sri Lankan army paying homage at the IPKF memorial at Colombo)
