Sept 22, Colombo: The three-week long joint military exercise involving thousands of Sri Lankan military and foreign military is reaching its final phase with several daring simulated features, the Army said.

The joint field exercise, known as the 'Exercise - Cormorant Strike III - 2012', is organized by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) with the participation of about 2000 tri-service personnel of Sri Lanka's Armed Forces.

According to the Army, the exercise is conducted in an amphibious setting with emphasis on specialized ground operations and is executed in stages.

The 16-day event began on September 10 and will continue until September 25 in the Vakarai area of Eastern Province with the participation of 40 foreign military personnel.

According to the Director of Exercise Cormorant Strike III, Brigadier Ruwan Kulatunge, 9 teams of 8-member Special Forces, together with the trainees of the 'Cormorant Strike III' are receiving training in the company of 11 officers and 29 other ranks of the Armed Forces of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and India.

The joint military Exercise comprises among other, mock 'Raids on boat yards', 'Taking of high value targets', 'Reconnaissance', 'Surveillance on targets', 'Airborne operations', 'Seaborne operations', 'Amphibious landing', 'Path-finding missions', 'Para jump into enemy strongholds', 'Ambushes', 'Search operations', 'Counter terrorist actions and Hostage Rescue Missions.

It is held under the approval of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and under the guidance of the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.

The Army Commander is to attend final stages of the Exercise 'Cormorant Strike III'.