Marking Sri Lanka’s 73rd Independence Day, the Marine Corps staged an amphibious demonstration at the Galle Face Green in Colombo on Thursday, the Navy stated in a press release.
The Navy conducted the mock beach landing as an exhibition to showcase its amphibious capabilities. It included rehearsal scenarios that covered landing and related drills performed by officers and sailors. The amphibious landing drill included a Landing Ship Tank, Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) ‘Shakthi’, SLNS ‘Ranagaja’; Landing Craft Utilities – L821, L801, and L802; as well as small boats used for amphibious operations, the statement read.
The demonstration saw Marines projecting force across a potentially hostile shore, in preparation of an amphibious landing. Three small vehicle prototypes devised by Navy Engineers were also tested during the demonstration.
Western Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Meril Sudarshana, Operations Director-General Rear Admiral Y.N. Jayaratne, Marine Corps Acting Director Captain Sanath Pitigala, and 01st Marine Battalion Commanding Officer Commander Ravi Harischandra were also present.
Due to prevailing COVID-19 concerns, the mock beach landing was conducted with the participation of a limited number of naval personnel, and arrangements have been made to bring exclusive highlights of the event to the public eye through the media.
More such demonstrations are scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at the Galle Face Green as well.
