The Sri Lankan navy announced it held yet another large scale military exercise, this time in ‘Counter Revolutionary Warfare’, in the occupied city of Trincomalee this month, with the participation of the Pakistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh navies.
The Sri Lanka Navy announced it had commenced the training involving foreign naval forces running until October 15.
“For the first time in this field training exercise, 25 naval personnel including observers will participate representing Pakistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh navies,” the navy declared.
“In addition, a total of 195 naval personnel will take part with naval vessel and air force helicopters participating.
This training exercise includes Amphibious Operations, Amphibious Assault, Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS), Internal Security Duties (ISD) and Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW).
According to the Navy, the exercise offers “an opportunity to share combat experiences and best practices among partners and improve collective responses to common maritime threats and strengthen preparedness for internal security duties.”
Despite a new government being in place promising a reduction in excess, Sri Lanka’s military continues to be one of the largest in the world per capita draining nearly half of the country’s budget to keep it afloat.
Sri Lanka's military budget revealed last November vastly outstrips spending in other sectors. In the 2023 budget, the Ranil Wickremesinghe government allocated $1.45 billion (539 billion Sri Lankan rupees) as the cumulative budget for the Ministry of Defense and Public Security. The Ministry of Defense received $1.108 billion while the Ministry of Public Security received $350 million.
The Sri Lankan army continues to be one of the largest militaries in the world per capita and occupies vast swathes of land across the Tamil homeland. Some villages in the North-East have as many as soldier for every two civilians.
