Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
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The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) ( Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සිංහ රෙජිමේන්තුව ''Śrī Laṃkā Sinha Rejimēnthuva'') is an
infantry regiment Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
of the
Sri Lanka Army The Sri Lanka Army (; ) is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. The army was officially established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, though the army traces its roots back in 1881 when Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was created; ...
; it is the second oldest infantry regiment in the army.


History

Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was the first
rifle regiment A rifle regiment is a military unit consisting of a regiment of infantry troops armed with rifles and known as Rifleman, riflemen. While all infantry units in modern armies are typically armed with rifled weapons the term is still used to denote r ...
of the Sri Lanka Army and was formed on 1 October 1956 at the Imperial camp at
Diyatalawa Diyatalawa (), (), meaning ) is a former garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is situated at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers. It is home ...
. The first battalion primarily consisted of 60 officers and other ranks from the
Ceylon Light Infantry Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by ...
with Lt Col R. D. Jayathilaka MBE as the first commanding officer. The D company of the volunteer Ceylon Light Infantry was transformed into the
Rajarata Rifles The Rajarata Rifles was a former rifle regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. It was one of only three geographically based regiments in the Sri Lanka army. The cap badge of the Raja Rata Rifles shows the figure of a ''Bherunda Pakshiya'' (Double-headed ...
under the leadership of Lt Col (later Colonel) S.D. Ratwatte, and went on to become the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment on 1 October 1956. On 1 October 1969 the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was formed at Hill School in
Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya ( ; ) is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain (table land)" or "city of light". The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landsc ...
. The regiment first saw action during the 1971 Insurrection and underwent an expansion with escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War. With the expansion of the regiment the Regimental Centre of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was established on 9 May 1988 at
Diyatalawa Diyatalawa (), (), meaning ) is a former garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is situated at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers. It is home ...
at the same location where the 1st Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was raised. Brig D Wijesingha was the first regimental commander. Later, on 21 October 1989 the Regimental Centre was relocated to Ambepussa Camp where the 1st Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was at that time. The regiment distinguished itself greatly during the Sri Lankan Civil War including having three
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya __NOTOC__ The Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV) ( Sinhala: පරම වීර වීභූෂණය ''parama vīra vibhūṣaṇaya''; Tamil: பரம வீர விபுஷனைய) is Sri Lanka's highest military decoration, awarded for ac ...
and one Weerodara Vibhushanaya recipients. In 1990 the elements of the 6th Battalion successfully held the old Dutch fort of Jaffna for two months while surrounded and under siege until it was relieved by the subsequent
Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation Thrividha Balaya was a combined military operation, the first of its kind, launched by the Sri Lankan Military in Jaffna. The operation was carried out to break the siege of the Sri Lanka Army garrison of the old Netherlands, Dutch J ...
. July 1991 the 6th Battalion garrisoned
Elephant Pass Elephant Pass (; ) is a region located at the gateway of the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It lies about 340 km north of the capital. It has an important military base and used to be the island's largest salt field. ...
base when it came under siege with the
LTTE The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; , ; also known as the Tamil Tigers) was a Tamil militant organization, that was based in the northern and eastern Sri Lanka. The LTTE fought to create an independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam ...
launching a massive attack on the base. The battalion held out what was termed the ''battle of all battles'' until it was relieved following Operation Balavegaya 18 days later. On 3 May 2005 a contingent of troops from the regiment took part in the
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (), also known as MINUSTAH, an acronym of its French name, was a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti from 2004 to 2017. It was composed of 2,366 military personnel and 2,533 police, supported by int ...
. The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the only regiment in the history of the Sri Lanka Army to produce an army commander holding the rank of a full general (four star) and later a Field Marshal as indicated in the notable members area. As a rifle regiment it marches in 140 steps a minute during parade when it is involved, together with the regimental band - the only Sri Lanka Army regiment to do so. Commander Security Force (Wanni) Major General WPADW Nanayakkara RSP VSV USP ndu assumed duties as the 18th Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 01 January 2024. Brigadier CS Thibbotuge assumed duties as the 25th Commandant of the Regimental Centre Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 15 March 2023 during a charm ceremony held at the Regimental Centre, Ambepussa.


Units


Recipients of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya

* Corporal Gamini Kularatne * Captain Saliya Upul Aladeniya *
Lance-Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many English-speaking armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal. Etymology The presumed origin of the rank of lance corp ...
A. M. B. H. G. Abeyrathnebanda *
Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...
A. M. Anura *
Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many English-speaking armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal. Etymology The presumed origin of the rank of lance corp ...
K. G. M. Rajapaksha


Recipients of the Weerodara Vibhushanaya

*
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
( QM) P. L. S. L. Cooray - 1989 *
Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...
R. P. R. Wickramapala - 1998


Commanders

*
Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
Sarath Fonseka Field Marshal Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka (born 18 December 1950) is a Sri Lankan retired army officer. He was the eighteenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 2005 to 2009, and under his command the Sri Lankan Army ended the 26- ...
, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc – 18th
Commander of the Sri Lanka Army The Commander of the Army () is the title of the professional head of the Sri Lanka Army. The current Commander of the Army is Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo. The post's precursor was known as Commander of the Ceylon Defence Force. Se ...
*
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
G. H. de Silva, RWP, VSV, USP – 13th
Commander of the Sri Lanka Army The Commander of the Army () is the title of the professional head of the Sri Lanka Army. The current Commander of the Army is Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo. The post's precursor was known as Commander of the Ceylon Defence Force. Se ...


Chiefs of Staff

* Major General H.S Hapuarachchi – 26th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. * Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu – 65th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.


Deputy Chiefs of Staff

* Major General
Gemunu Kulatunge Major General Gemunu Kulatunge, RSP, USP, ndc, psc (1941–2003) was a Sri Lankan army general, who was the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Educated at Royal College, Colombo, he graduated from the University of Ceylon ...
, RSP, USP – 4th Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. * Major General Jaliya Nammuni, RSP, VSV, USP – 6th Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. * Major General Kumudu Perera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu– 31st Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. * Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena, RWP, RSP, ndu – 42nd Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.


Notable Members

*
General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Anuruddha Ratwatte General Anuruddha Leuke Ratwatte (14 July 1938 – 24 November 2011), frequently referred to as Anuruddha Ratwatte, was a Sri Lankan politician and a retired army officer. He was a Cabinet Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence. Early life ...
– Former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence * Major General E. G. Thevanayagam * Major General MAM Dias RWP, RSP, VSV, USP , PSC – Former General Officer Commanding, 54 Division in Mannar * Major General
Laksiri Waduge Major-general (Sri Lanka), Major General Galwaduge Janaka Laksiri Waduge, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, RWP, Rana Sura Padakkama, RSP, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, VSV, Uttama Seva Padakkama, USP, PLA National Defence University, ndu () (born 16 Apri ...
RWP RSP VSV USP ndu – Former Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Central * Major General Susantha Mendis – Former Brigade Commander, 512 Brigade. * Major General D.W. Hapuarachchi – Commanding Officer - 1st Bn SLSR, Founder Commanding Officer
Sri Lanka National Guard The Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) is the largest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is a Military reserve force, volunteer regiment currently made up of 35 battalions coming under the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. History The number of ba ...
*
Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
T.S.B. Sally - Commanding Officer – 1st Bn SLSR,
Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...
, Sri Lanka Army. *
Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
S.B. Miyanadeniya – Commanding Officer - 1st Bn SLSR, Director Training SL Army *
Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...
D.M.L.B.Dissanayake RSP – Commanding Officer - 15th Bn SLSR *
Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a Military rank, rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administr ...
Pradeep Sanjaya, – Bronze medalist 400m London Paralympics 2012, 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.


Order of precedence


See also

*
Sri Lanka Army The Sri Lanka Army (; ) is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. The army was officially established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, though the army traces its roots back in 1881 when Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was created; ...


External links and sources

*


References

{{Sri Lanka Army Regiments * Sinha Regiment Military units and formations established in 1956 1956 establishments in Ceylon