#Daily #Current #Affairs

Sri Lanka, China begin joint military training exercise ‘Silk Route- 2015′

Joint military training exercise code named ‘Silk Route- 2015′ between China and Sri Lanka has begun at Buttala in Central Sri Lanka. It is three-week long joint military training exercise will be conducted in three phases. Phase 1 will be held June 22-28, 2015; Phase 2 will be held from June 28-July 5, 2015 and Phase 3 will be held from July 5 – July 13, 2015. In the first phase of the 2nd joint exercise involves Sri Lankan Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China have participated. This training will focus on weapon handling, live firing, VIP protection study and other warfare and battle skills related fields. It will also cover other exercises such as backup vehicle movement and training, ambush drills, special mission planning, combat tracking techniques, jungle warfare and basic battle skills, aircraft and building option training, vehicle ambush drills etc. The first stage of the ‘Silk Route – 2015′ exercise was conducted in China earlier between March 29 and April 17, 2015 following successful negotiations between armies of both nations.

Maharashtra declares Blue Mormon as ‘State butterfly’

Maharashtra has officially declared Blue Mormon species as State butterfly as part of state symbols. Decision in this regard was taken in State Wildlife Board meeting presided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. With this, Maharashtra became the first State in the country to have a State butterfly. Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) is the second largest butterfly species in terms of size, after the southern birdwing (Troides minos). Blue Mormon has black, velvet wings with bright blue spots. The lower ends of its wings are black. Its body has some red spots on one side. It is only found (endemic to) in Sri Lanka, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts of the country.

Kerala Government declares June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’

Kerala Government has declared June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’ in a bid to protect the endangered species which is also known as Indian darter. The formal announcement was made by State minister for forest Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan at a function organised by Snake Bird Foundation in Thiruvananthapuram. Snake Bird is water bird which is also known as Indian darter (Anhinga melanogaster). It has large slender long-necked water bird and is mostly black with silver wing markings.