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The United States military celebrated the end of a month-long training exercise with the Sri Lankan navy this week, which continued to take place despite the head of the Sri Lankan army being subject to travel sanctions over his role in overseeing war crimes.
The Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) took place at the Sri Lankan navy’s occupying Special Boat Squadron base in Trincomalee this month.
Dozens of Sri Lankan naval troops were involved with the exercise which included at least 6 trainers from Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 1333 of the US Army.
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“The four-week long exercise focused on Human Rights, Law of Armed Conflict, Small Unit Tactics, Military Operations in Urban Environment, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Combat Marksmanship, Close Quarter Battle, Mission Planning, Maritime Operations etc.,” said the Sri Lankan navy in a press release.
The latest such exercise comes despite the US placing travel sanctions on Shavedra Silva, the head of Sri Lanka’s army, over his involvement in mass atrocities. Silva oversaw a notorious military division that was involved in shelling hospitals and executing surrendering Tamils, in an offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamils in 2009.
