Next week the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army will kick off the 10th edition of their joint exercise, “Mitra Shakti,” at Maduruoya in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.
Exercise Mitra Shakti 2024
Next week the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army will kick off the 10th edition of their joint exercise, “Mitra Shakti,” at Maduruoya in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. This annual event is crucial for fostering cooperation and enhancing interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces. A unit of 120 soldiers from the Indian Army’s Rajputana Rifles (Raj Rif) will travel to Sri Lanka for the exercise starting Aug 12, 2024. They will join an equal number of troops from the Sri Lanka Army’s Gajaba Regiment, an elite infantry unit known for its operational expertise.
Scheduled to conclude on August 25, the 10th edition of “Mitra Shakti” underscores the ongoing commitment of India and Sri Lanka to bolster their military cooperation.
India Sri Lanka Relations
India and Sri Lanka have a long history of cultural, religious, and trade ties dating back to ancient times. India provided approximately USD 4 billion worth of aid to Sri Lanka during an unprecedented economic crisis, which was crucial for the country to survive the crisis.
India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination, after the US and UK. More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s exports enjoy the benefits of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. India is also a major investor in Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka conduct joint military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
Sri Lanka is also a member of groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a leading role.
In 2022, India was the largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka with over 100,000 tourists.
