The Pakistan Army and the Sri Lanka Army have concluded “Exercise Shake Hands-II”, a two-week joint counter-terrorism training programme held at the Special Services Group (SSG) base in Tarbela, Pakistan.
The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka said the exercise commenced on April 27, 2026, and concluded on Thursday. Combat teams from the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group and the Sri Lankan Special Forces participated, demonstrating “high standards of professional excellence” throughout the training, the Commission said.
The programme focused on refining drills, procedures and techniques in counter-terrorism operations through joint training, while strengthening military-to-military ties between the two countries.
The closing ceremony was attended by the General Officer Commanding Special Services Group as the Chief Guest. Sri Lanka was represented by Major General Ajith Abeyawardana (WWV RWP RSP).
The exercise sits alongside a broader thread of Pakistan-Sri Lanka defence cooperation, including the LION STAR V naval bilateral exercise hosted in Colombo earlier this year. Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s special forces routinely conduct counter-terrorism training together, with Pakistan’s SSG widely regarded as one of South Asia’s most experienced units in irregular-warfare doctrine.
Source: Newswire.
