Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
ශ්‍රී ලංකා සිංහ රෙජිමේන්තුව
Active1 October 1956 – present
Country Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Army
TypeInfantry
Size17 battalions
Regimental CentreAmbepussa Camp
Motto(s)නිර්භීත වේගවත්
(Sinhala: Swift and Bold)
Colors     
Mascot(s)Cougar the lion[1]
Anniversaries1 October (regimental day)
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Insurrection 1987-89
1971 Insurrection
Decorations5 Parama Weera Vibhushanayas,
2 Weerodara Vibhushanayas
Websitealt.army.lk/slsr/
Commanders
Centre CommandantBrigadier CS Thibbotuge
Colonel of
the Regiment		Major General WPADW Nanayakkara RSP VSV USP ndu
Insignia
Flag

The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සිංහ රෙජිමේන්තුව Śrī Laṃkā Sinha Rejimēnthuva) is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army; it is the second oldest infantry regiment in the army.

History

Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was the first rifle regiment of the Sri Lanka Army and was formed on 1 October 1956 at the Imperial camp at Diyatalawa. The first battalion primarily consisted of 60 officers and other ranks from the Ceylon Light Infantry with Lt Col R. D. Jayathilaka MBE as the first commanding officer.

Sinha Regiment War Memorial of Ambepussa Army Camp.This memorial dedicated to all military personnel of Sinha Regiment killed in action

The D company of the volunteer Ceylon Light Infantry was transformed into the Rajarata Rifles 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.

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 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 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. July 1991 the 6th Battalion garrisoned Elephant Pass base when it came under siege with the LTTE 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 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 180 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

No Unit Formed Formed at Disbanded Notes
11st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1956Imperial Camp in Diyatalawa
22nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1956Disbanded Rajarata Rifles was re-activated and re-designated as 2nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
33rd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1969Hill School, Nuwara Eliya
44th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 1985Ambepussa Camp
55th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 February 1987Kandy Camp
66th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment10 August 1987CTS AmparaFirst commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Weerasekara
77th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment12 May 1990Ambepussa CampFirst commanding officer was Major K.M.D.U.M. Kendaragama
88th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 October 1992Konduwatuwana CampFirst commanding office was Major J.C. Kotelawala
99th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 January 1993Welioya Camp
1010th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment23 January 1994Sankattaravayal CampOn 12 March 2012 re-designated as the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment
1111th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 April 1994Dewahuwa Camp
1212th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment9 December 1996Ambepussa Camp
1314th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 December 1996Ambepussa Camp
1415th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 April 1994Ponnalei Camp
1516th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment17 February 1997Ambepussa Camp
1617th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 2007Kataragama Camp
1718th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment30 March 2008Kalawanchikudai Camp3 August 2018
1819th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment31 August 2008Katukeliyawa Camp03 September 2018
1920th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 2008Vavunikulam Camp
2021st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 2008Ambepussa Camp
2122nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 July 200910 March 2012
2223rd Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 August 2009Pooneryn Camp
2324th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 2009Alampil Camp
2425th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Pampeimadu CampDisbanded2nd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 25th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
2526th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Vedivettukallu CampDisbanded3rd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 26th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
2627th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Gajasinghepura Camp29 February 20124th RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 27th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
2728th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Madu Camp29 February 20121st RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 28th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
28RHQ Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

Recipients of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya

Recipients of the Weerodara Vibhushanaya

Notable members

Order of precedence

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sinha Regiment's 3rd Mascot 'Cougar' Welcomed at Ambepussa". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
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