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Sri Lanka Army - Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

Until independence in 1948, the Ceylon Defence Force was vested with the responsibility of national security; and after February 4th 1948, the Sri Lankan Government became solely responsible for protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island. In order to meet this challenge raising and maintaining a standing army was a necessity. The British had left a volunteer force and the government supplemented it with a regular force in order to defend national interests of Sri Lanka.

As the government felt the need for expanding the infantry capability of the Army, a Rifle Regiment, with the designation, The 1st Battalion Ceylon Sinha Regiment, was raised on 1st Oct 1956 at the Imperial Camp, Diyatalawa. It was the first Rifle Battalion of the Ceylon Army. Lt Col RD Jayatilleka MBE was appointed as its first Commanding Officer.

Meanwhile, the 'C' Company of the renowned 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry was re-designated as Rajarata Rifles under the able command of Lt Col SD Ratwatte. The Rajarata Rifles was soon re-designated as the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Ceylon Sinha Regiment thus giving birth to the volunteer counterpart of 1st Battalion the Ceylon Sinha Regiment.

On 1st Oct 1969, The 3rd Volunteer Battalion the Ceylon Sinha Regiment was raised at Hill's School, Nuwara Eliya. Later when Sri Lanka became a republic on 22nd May 1972 the Ceylon Sinha Regiment that comprised one Regular Battalion and two Volunteer Battalions was renamed as Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

With the advent of terrorism on Sri Lanka soil in early 1980s, the Sri Lanka Army accelerated its expansion to meet the threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity by Tamil rebels. The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment too expanded consequently and the following battalions were added to the Regiment.

4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	1st Dec 1985
5th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	1st Feb 1987
6th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Aug 1987
7th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	12th May 1990
8th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	16th Oct 1992
9th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Jan 1993
10th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	23rd Jan 1994
11th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	16th Apr 1994
12th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	25th June 2007
14th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	1st Dec 2007
15th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Jan 1997
16th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st July 2008
17th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	1st Dec 2007
18th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	30th Mar 1997
19th (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	31st Aug 2008
20th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Oct 2008
21st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Dec 2008
22nd (Vol) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st July 2009
23rd Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Aug 2009
24th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	01st Oct 2009
25th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	20th Sept 2010
26th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	20th Sept 2010
27th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	20th Sept 2010
28th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment	20th Sept 2010

As of 2011 the Regiment was comprised of twelve Regular Battalions and nine Volunteer Battalions deployed in the field and a Regimental Headquarters Battalion comprising of those Sinha personnel disabled in action. The Battalions deployed in the field are committed to proudly and bravely face the challenges that are thrown at them and protect the integrity and sovereignty of their island home.

When the then Commander of the Army Brig AM Muttukumaru made representations on the consequences of a depletion of the deployable strength of the Army, the then Prime Minister Mr SWRD Bandaranaike approved the raising of a new Battalion of Regulars.. The Army hierarchy favoured naming this unit, the third Battalion of the existing Ceylon Light Infantry.But Mr Bandaranaike had other views and suggested the name ‘Sinha Regiment’. Thus the raising of 1st Battalion, Ceylon Sinha Regiment into the regular force of the Sri Lanka Army on 1st Oct 1956 is a hallmark in the history of the SriLanka Army. The so formed Ceylon Sinha Regiment, the only Rifle Regiment in the Sri Lanka Army the lightest Infantry, followed the footsteps of the Rifle Regiments (Green Jackets) of the United Kingdom. It followed their customs, traditions dress and drills etc, Thus to be less conspicuous Sinha Regiment does not carry colours; wore uniforms of olive green colour to merge with the country side, and used black buttons and badges of ranks. The Officers wore black Sam Browne, belts and shoes.

The Second (Volunteer) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is based in the historical and beautiful city of Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka, which in the medieval era was known as Senkadagalathe last Sinhala Kingdom of the Island. Thus the city has a historical significance. The genesis of the Battalion is that,with the Independence being granted to Ceylon in 1948 and with the inauguration of the Ceylon Army in 1949 together with the Regular counterpart,the Second (Vol) Battalion The Ceylon Sinha Regiment was raised on 1 Oct 1956 in pursuance of the Govt Gazette notification 10/988 of Nov 1956. In consequential to Government policy in 1956, Rajarata Rifles was disbanded and was redesignated the 2nd (Vol) Battalion the Ceylon Sinha Regiment, with all Officers and men of the Rajarata Rifles automatically finding membership in the 2nd (Vol) Battalion Ceylon Sinha Regiment.

The 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, was formed as the 3rd Rifle Regiment in this country. It was then, one of the youngest Volunteer Units in the Sri Lanka Army, having been formed on the 1st of Oct, 1969. The raising of an Army Unit was considered necessary in the Plantation sector in the hill country, mainly to tackle internal security situations arising from trade union activities in the Plantation sector, which led to unrest from time totime. Thus this Rifle Regiment was born in Nuwra Eliya in the hill-country, which then as now is a fancied holiday resort, and a seat of the tea planting fraternity.

Consequent to the expansion of the Sri Lanka Army, the 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was raised on 1st Dec 1985. At its raising, it comprised 18 Officers and 405 Other Ranks. The Battalion started to function after religious observances, that took place at Ambepussa, Lt Col HS Hapuarachchi was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the Battalion. The ‘A’ Company comprised members of the ‘A’ Company of 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment which was transferred to the Battalion. ‘C’ Company consisted of 300 recruits who had just completed their recruit training course; together with some Non-Commissioned Officers who joined the Unit, volunteering to transfer from 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. ‘B’ Company was already performing duties at Malay Street, Colombo, at the time of raising the Battalion. ‘C’ Company consisted of recruits, who followed a training course at Maduru Oya from 1st Feb 1986 to 25th Feb 1986; making them the first recruits of the Battalion.

The 5th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was established as a Unit of the Volunteer Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 1st Feb 1987, on the direction of the President of Sri Lanka HE JR Jayewardene. This Unit came in to being as a result of long discussions held between the Ministry of Defence and the Mahaweli Ministry, to provide security for installations and the area coming under the Mahaweli River Development Programme. Though the primary task of the Unit was to provide security to all projects under this Scheme, Mahaweli Colonies, and its colonists; its military role was to be the same as other infantry Units of the Volunteer Force. At the outset, the Headquarters, was located at No 666, Galle Road, Colombo.

The 6th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was raised on 10th Aug 1987 as a Unit of the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army. The first Commanding Officer of this Unit was Lt Col AG Weerasekara. Seventeen Officers from 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, and 552 Other Ranks were enlisted as the initial strength of this Unit. The first adjutant of the Unit was Capt. PLU Buddadasa, and the first RSM was WO I HC Senanayake. From its raising, it was stationed at Konduwatuwana Camp, Ampara. The Battalion consists of 4 Rifle Companies, and they were deployed at the Digamadulla District to protect Villages from terrorist activities. During this time the IndianPeaceKeepingForce (IPKF) too was present in Sri Lanka and thus the Officers and Other Ranks of the Unit were able to maintain a good rapport with the IPKF and were able to protect the Sinhala villages from incursions by Tamil terrorists.

On 12th May 1990, the 7th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was raised into the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army. It comprised 10 Officers and 199 Other Ranks from 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, 7 Officers and 156 Other Ranks from 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, and 10 Officers and 163 Other Ranks from 6th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

The 8th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was first raised at the Kondawatuwan Army Camp, Ampara on 16th Oct 1992. The first appointment holders at the raising were, Commanding Officer - O/50754 Lt Col JC Kothalawala, Second in Command - O/60060 Major MPHF Jayasooriya.

During the separatist war in the country, a new Battalion was raised into the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 19th Feb 1993 at Ambepussa. The new Battalion was designated, the 9th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. The first Officers and Men of the new Battalion were transferred to it from the 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th Regular Force Battalions of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

In consequence of the expansion of the Sri Lanka Army to defeat LTTE terrorism which was threatening the territorial integrity of the country, the 11th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was raised, at an astrologically auspicious time, at Devahuwa on 20th Apr 1994. To comprise the nucleus of this Battalion the 5th Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery (Volunteers) transferred one Officer and 75 Other Ranks; likewise 2nd (Vol) Battalion the Sinha Regiment contributed 3 Officers, and 126 Other Ranks, the 3rd (Vol)Battalion the Sinha Regiment, 4 Officers and 108 Other Ranks; and, finally the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion The Sinha Regiment 5 Officers and 125 Other Ranks.

In order to meet the administrative challenges that were experienced as a result of the expansion of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment a Regimental Headquarters was established on 9th May 1988 at the same location where the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was raised in 1956 at Diyatalawa. Brig D Wijesinghe assumed duties as the first Colonel Commandant of the Regiment. Later on 21st Oct 1989, the Regimental Headquarters was relocated at Ambepussa, with the 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

By tradition, the most senior serving Officer of the Regiment qualifies for succession as the Colonel of the Regiment. Major General D Wijesinghe was the first Colonel of the Regiment. He was since followed by Major Generals GP Kulatunga, HS Hapuarachchi, J Nammuni; Brig SG Karunaratna RWP RSP psc and finally, the present appointment holder, as Colonel Commandant, Maj Gen DRAB Jayatilake RWP RSP VSV USP Ldmc , who is also the Volunteer Force Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.

The Sinha Regiment motto is "Swift & Bold ". There are many occasions of valour displayed by members of the Regiment who lived up to this motto. One such occasion was when Capt SU Aladeniya 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, who was the Officer Commanding of the Army camp at Kokavil that was attacked by terrorists, sacrificed his life in defending his Camp against overwhelming odds. In another instance, Cpl Kularathna YGG of 6th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment displayed his valour when he single - handedly attacked the enemy taking them completely by surprise. Amidst the hail of enemy gun fire, Kularathna ran the final race in his life, scaled the approaching modified enemy tank and flung a grenade into it. Rifleman Kularathna was killed. But, his heroic action immobilized the monstrous vehicle, saved his comrades and ensured the security of the camp. Both these heroes were posthumously awarded the 'Parama Weera Vibhusanaya' (PWV), the highest award for bravery and heroism.