Colombo, April 3 (IANS) The Sri Lanka Army on Wednesday said it would hold the largest military exercise in July to coincide with 10 years of the end of the island nation's 30-year civil conflict between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.

The army in a statement said the month-long military exercise will begin on July 1 with the participation of over 5,000 soldiers, Xinhua news agency reported.

The war game titled, "Exercise -- Western Shield," will provide the opportunity for army trainees to march through areas that are not usually accessible to others, except forest conservation authorities, the report said.

Army personnel would also be trained to stay well-attuned, refreshed and upgraded to meet with any future warfare threat, it added.

--IANS soni/pcj