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Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

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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

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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 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

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No Unit Formed Formed at Disbanded Notes
1 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 October 1956 Imperial Camp in Diyatalawa
2 2nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 October 1956 Disbanded Rajarata Rifles was re-activated and re-designated as 2nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
3 3rd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 October 1969 Hill School, Nuwara Eliya
4 4th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 December 1985 Ambepussa Camp
5 5th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 February 1987 Kandy Camp
6 6th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 10 August 1987 CTS Ampara First commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Weerasekara
7 7th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 12 May 1990 Ambepussa Camp First commanding officer was Major K.M.D.U.M. Kendaragama
8 8th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 16 October 1992 Konduwatuwana Camp First commanding office was Major J.C. Kotelawala
9 9th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 January 1993 Welioya Camp
10 10th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 23 January 1994 Sankattaravayal Camp On 12 March 2012 re-designated as the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment
11 11th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 16 April 1994 Dewahuwa Camp
12 12th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 9 December 1996 Ambepussa Camp
13 14th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 16 December 1996 Ambepussa Camp
14 15th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 16 April 1994 Ponnalei Camp
15 16th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 17 February 1997 Ambepussa Camp
16 17th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 December 2007 Kataragama Camp
17 18th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 30 March 2008 Kalawanchikudai Camp 3 August 2018
18 19th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 31 August 2008 Katukeliyawa Camp 03 September 2018
19 20th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 October 2008 Vavunikulam Camp
20 21st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 December 2008 Ambepussa Camp
21 22nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 July 2009 10 March 2012
22 23rd Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 August 2009 Pooneryn Camp
23 24th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 1 October 2009 Alampil Camp
24 25th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 20 September 2010 Pampeimadu Camp Disbanded 2nd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 25th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
25 26th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 20 September 2010 Vedivettukallu Camp Disbanded 3rd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 26th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
26 27th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 20 September 2010 Gajasinghepura Camp 29 February 2012 4th RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 27th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
27 28th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 20 September 2010 Madu Camp 29 February 2012 1st RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 28th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
28 RHQ Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment 25 November 1999

Recipients of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya

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Recipients of the Weerodara Vibhushanaya

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Notable members

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Order of precedence

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Preceded by Order of precedence Succeeded by

See also

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References

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