The Sri Lanka Army is currently training around 31,000 personnel, of whom 28,000 are new recruits to various regiments of the Army. The
In October last year, over 130 serving officers and men from the Army’s regular infantry completed their training program and passed out with flying colours at Maduru Oya. They were the only successful candidates to receive the Black Beret out of over 900 officers and men who applied for the training.
In April this year, a batch of around 350 new recruits to the Special Forces are to pass out with another 350 expected to pass out from the same Training School in July this year. Each new trainee must undergo a grueling 9-month training, including a Compass March, Night-time Training and Close-Quarter Combat. During the Compass March for example, each trainee must fend for himself and survive alone in rough terrain, facing ambushes and live firing by experienced instructors.
The Special Forces have raised some interest overseas as well. A considerably large contingent of Maldivian Army officers and men are also undergoing training at Special Forces and
Meanwhile Major General L.A.D. Ameratunga was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Special Forces in a recent shakeup in the Army’s top rankers following the forthcoming retirement of some senior officers, including an experienced Major General. The former Colonel Commandant, Maj. Gen G.A. Chandrasiri took over Command of the Armoured Corp, whilst also serving as SF Commander Jaffna.
The Special Forces, which has a very fluid command structure, functions with just one Brigadier, one full Colonel and three lieutenant Colonels. All three Regiments are commanded by Majors. 5 battle-hardened Special Forces Majors from intake 32 were recently enlisted at the
Meanwhile the LTTE is again feeding misinformation to the foreign media, particularly about the casualty rates in the