Sri Lanka Army - The Gemunu Watch (GW)
The Gemunu Watch is one of the old infantry colors battalion. The Gemunu Watch Regiment has grown to 09 regular and 04 volunteer Battalions by 2007 and had done proud by protecting its motherland.
In 1958 Mr. W. Dahanayaka M.P. Gaffe was appointed the Prime Minister and he visited his home town Galle day after taking oaths as the Prime minister. Lt. Amerasuriya without any approval from Army HQ gave a Guard of Honor to the newly appointed prime Minister at Galle. On this occasion the Prime Minister inquired why this unit at Galle was called Singha Regiment when the Singha Regiment is at Kandy. When the reason for such a decision was explained immediately informed Lt. Amerasuriya that he will direct the Army Commander to raise a volunteer unit at Galle which came into effect in late 1959 as the 1st Battallion the Gemunu Regiment.
When a mobilization occurred, mainly for general strikes in the country or for essential service such as to unload essential food cargo when the harbour labourer went on strike, the unit was called up and sent to Colombo.
In mid 1962 the Army Headquarters were making arrangements to establish a regular unit by the name the 1st Battalion the Gemunu Watch at Diyatalawa and its founder Colonel J.F. Halangode invited the existing unit to be its volunteer which was gleefully accepted by all. Thus the 1st Bn Gemunu Regiment became the 2nd volunteer Battalion the Gemunu Watch, and the Matara detachment was established as the 3rd volunteer Battalion the Gemunu Watch. With the establishment of the regular Gemunu Watch the two volunteer battalions were established on the same day, the 07th of December 1962.
The 1st Bn The Gemunu Watch was raised in Diyatalawa on 7th December 1962. Its initial deployment of the entire 1st Battalion under the command of its founder and first Commanding Officer Lt. Col. (late Brig) J.F. Halangode was in the Mannar sector on TAFII (Task Force Anti-Illicit Immigration) duties in early 1963. The 2nd (vol) Bn The Gemunu Watch in Galle and the 3rd (vol) Bn The Gemunu Watch in Matara were also deployed on TAFII duties and have performed exceptionally well in operational duties both in Jaffna and Mannar sectors.
The 1st Bn The Gemunu Watch was the first unit to be deployed in the 1971 insurgency in Wellawaya, whilst its volunteer counter-parts lead the Counter- Insurgency operations in Galle and Matara respectively. The 1st Bn The Gemunu Watch was part of the 1st Brigade group that led the way during ‘Op Liberation’ in 1987 in Vadamarachci in the Jaffna peninsular.
The 1st Bn The Gemunu Watch fought heroically in June 1990 in the defence of its camps in the Batticaloa district which were under siege for over 8 days amidst the surrender of over 670 policemen who were brutally killed in cold blood by the LTTE. The 5th and 6th Bns of The Gemunu Watch assisted the two Brigades that launched the first amphibious ‘Balavegaya I’ operation to rescue the besieged troops at Elephant pass in July 1991.
The 4th Bn The Gemunu Watch was in the thick of the fighting in Weli-oya in July 1995 where more than 350 LTTE cadres were killed in one night’s battle during their abortive attempt to overrun the Weli-oya settlement in the North- East of Sri Lanka. In October 1995 ‘ Op Riviresa’ was launched to liberate the Jaffna peninsula.
The Gemunu Watch was instrumental in leading the way in the capture of Jaffna Fort, Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro and VVT. They were ably supported by other Bns of the Sri Lanka Army including 1GW, 5GW, 6GW, 8GW and 9GW who were also involved in the Riviresa operation with units of the SLN and SLAF. In late 1996 “Op Sathjaya” was launched to liberate Paranthan and Killinochchi where 6GW, 7GW and 9GW were actively involved. In May 1997 ‘Op Jayasikuru’ was launched to open the land route to the Jaffna peninsular and in its 18 months duration 1GW, 4GW, 5GW, 8GW and 11 GW Bns with other units of the Sri Lanka Army participated in the operation.
The period of 1996 & 2000 was the period The Sri Lanka Army suffered many debacles as well as conducted most of the operations. And this was the period the SLA suffered with lot of absent cases. After 2001 because of the peace process and signing of MOU the absent rate and the reasons of absent also changed.
The 1st battalion the Gemunu Watch absenteeism of the low ranks/soldiers - Private & LiCpl - was high and high ranks absenteeism rate is low. This is due to high rank long service, and also due to their married status with children, that they show more responsibility. Some are leaving the Army whereas others decide to serve the Army very dutifully. ln this category of cadres who excelling Army and hold very high position and lead a very successful lives. Because of their long service and the responsibility they have their absent rate relatively low.
The 6GW, 7GW, 8GW and 9GW Bns were also involved in the humanitarian operations in the East commencing with the re-capture of the Mavil-aru anicut and the liberation of Sampur and Vakarai and the capture of the Thoppigala stronghold of the LTTE, thus liberating the East from the LTTE from August 2006 to July 2007.
The regiment continued to serve with honor and distinction and have kept to its regimental motto “Tarry Not Forward’. By 2007 the regiment had lost 2547 heroes who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in the defence of Sri Lanka during the previous 45 years. Those who serve and are due to serve in the Gemunu Watch Regiment could be proud of their record in combat and continue to uphold the rich traditions of the Regiment.
The ‘Pranaama Pooja’ (offer of tributes) in memory of fallen War Heroes of the Gemunu Watch (GW) took place in August 2011 for two days at Kuruwita Gemunu Watch Regimental Headquarters. Those programs, headed by Major General S. Udumalagala, Colonel of the Regiment and Mrs Chintha Udumalagala, Chairperson, GW Seva Vanitha Unit, kicked off with an all-night ‘Pirith’ chanting at the temple premises inside the GW Regimental Headquarters premises. The religious event transferred merits to all fallen War Heroes and invoked blessings on speedy recovery of injured War Heroes and other serving soldiers. Offer of alms to 25 members of the Maha Sangha, the following morning culminated the first phase of those commemorative ceremonies.
The second day commemorative ceremonies largely focused on welfare of affected War Hero families, disable War Heroes and other serving soldiers. GW Seva Vanitha chairperson along with other senior officers gave a patient hearing to those family members of fallen War Heroes during a special forum on the occasion and found solutions then and there for some of their burning issues that were presented to the forum.
Next item on the agenda saw award of ‘Pranama’ certificates to parents and children of fallen War Heroes as colourful entertaining features presented by GW dancers and cultural troupes provided amusement to the occasion. A special poetic tribute for the memory of War Heroes, made by Kavya Visharad Vijitha Abeywickrema added colour to the programme after Major General S. Udumalagala addressed the gathering of more than 1000 next of kin and parents of fallen and missing War Heroes. Special entertaining features for children of War Heroes on the occasion drew popular attention of all those youngsters whose fathers have made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland. Those children were also given away special gift parcels on the occasion before the ceremonies came to an end.
Kuruwita is the Regimental Headquarters of Gemunu Watch (GW), one of the infantry formations established in response to the conventional military threat posed by the LTTE. Foundation stone for the proposed Head Office building for GWESRA was laid by Colonel Jagath Pakshaweera RSP USP the Centre Commandant of Gemunu Regiment at an auspicious time prior to the commencement of the Annual General meeting in Kuruvita camp in the presence of a large gathering of GWESRA members on 15 March 2009. Funding for the project comes from the Srilanka Army. Construction will be carried out under the supervision of the Regimental HQ using their own labor.
A move to release about two acres of land belonging to the Kuruwita army camp for gem mining has been foiled in July 2011 due to intervention by the Opposition Leader of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council A. A. Wijetunga. The UNPer demanded that Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath not allow the gem industry to take over land belonging to the Army.
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