What’s In A Name

“Exercise Flash Style,” it might sound like the planners made a mistake when deciding on a name for this Joint Combined Exchange Training or JCET but considering all the media attention the U.S. Navy SEALs and their terrorist enemies have garnished over the last few years they may have hit the nail right on the head.

Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan Navy released a report on the initiation of its annual JCET between Naval Special Warfare and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

Although it’s been 3 years since the government defeated the militant separatists known as the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam or more commonly referred to as the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan military isn’t taking any chances by letting up with interoperability training nor should they.

Despite the 2009 defeat of the Tamil Tigers the groups activities aboard haven’t deterred one bit. Just one day after the commencement of JCET exercises Canadian citizen Suresh Sriskandarajah pleaded guilty in a New York courtroom on conspiring to provide advance weaponry to the Tamil Tigers.

Sriskandarajah along with fellow alleged member Piratheepan Nadarajah were extradited to the US in late 2012 to face charges on attempting to acquire surface-to-air missiles, AK-47s, night vision, communication equipment, and submarine and warship design software for the Tamil Tigers. None of which sounds as if the terrorist group is wavering from its goal of waging a violent succession from the Sri Lankan government.

To ensure the military is ready Exercise Flash Style included training key troops on the care of combat casualties, search and seizure operations, swift water and high angle rescue, and helicopter insertion. Exercises are scheduled to conclude on 19 July but the government has given no indication on when they plan to stop battling terrorism.