Exercise Western Shield to be conducted by Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan army has decided to conduct its largest ever military exercise titled ‘Exercise Western Shield’ in July 2019 to provide an opportunity for army trainees to march through areas that are not usually accessible to others, except forest conservation authorities. It will see participation of over 5,000 soldiers and will extend from Mannar to Puttalam, including Kalpitiya, Wilpattu National Park, Mavillu and Thabbowa Forest Reserves and the Western coastal belt. The exercise is coincided with 10 years since the end of the island’s 30-year civil conflict between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.