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Sri Lanka Army

The Sri Lanka Army (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව, romanized: Śrī Laṃkā yuddha hamudāva; Tamil: இலங்கை இராணுவம், romanized: Ilankai iraṇuvam) 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 it's roots back in 1881 when Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was created; the army was renamed as the 'Sri Lanka Army' when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972. In 2024, the Army had approximately 150,000 personnel.[2]

The Army Headquarters is situated in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Commander of the Army is the highest appointment in the army who commands the army and is assisted by the Chief of Staff of the Army and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army.[3][4] The Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the President of Sri Lanka, who heads the National Security Council through the Ministry of Defence, which is charged with formulating, executing defence policy and procurements for the armed forces.[5]

Background[edit]

Pre Anuradhapura period to the Transitional period[edit]

The first military engagements in Sri Lankan history were marked by the advent of Prince Vijaya, a prince from the Bengal region who landed along with his followers on the beaches of northwestern Sri Lanka around 543 BC. Prince Vijaya and his followers occupied the lands of the native Vedda people. Repeated incursions by South Indians, particularly the Cholas, into Sri Lankan territory occurred throughout the next few centuries and led to the engagement of the rival forces in battle.[6] In one famous encounter, Sinhalese King Dutugamunu (161-37 BC) raised an army of eleven thousand in his battle against the Chola invader Elara, whom he eventually defeated. Dutugemunu's organisational skills, bravery and chivalry are famous and his battles have gone down in history as outstanding offensive operations.[7]


Other Sri Lankan monarchs whose military achievements stand out include Gajabahu I (113-35), who sailed to India to bring back his captured soldiers, and Dhatusena (455-73) who is credited with repulsing numerous Indian invasions and for organising a naval build-up to deter seaborne attacks. He also had the foresight to cover his defences with artillery. Vijayabahu I (1055–1110) was another warrior king who dislodged Indian invaders and united the country. Parakramabahu the Great (1153–86) was an outstanding monarch of the Polonnaruwa period, and his accomplishments as a military leader and a great administrator are noteworthy. His reign included a military expedition to Burma in retaliation for indignities inflicted on his envoys and Burmese interference in the elephant trade. This marked the first overseas expedition in Sri Lankan military history. It is also reported that Parakramabahu's fame was such that his assistance was sought by South Indian rulers who were involved in internecine struggles. Another strong ruler in the Transitional period of Sri Lanka was Parakramabahu VI, who defeated Indian invaders, united the island and ruled it from capital Kotte.[7] Although the known epigraphical records do not indicate that the Sri Lankan rulers had a full-time standing army at their disposal, there is evidence supported by legend, designation, name, place and tradition that prove there were 'stand-by' equestrian, elephant, and infantry divisions to ensure royal authority at all times. Militias were raised as the necessity arose, and the soldiers returned to their pursuits, mainly for farming, after their spell of military duty.[7]

History[edit]

Ceylon Volunteers[edit]

On 1 April 1881 by a proclamation issued by the Governor of Ceylon, a Volunteer Force was raised in Ceylon. It was designated the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers (CLIV) in an attempt to compensated for the disbandment of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment in 1874. The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was originally administered as a single regiment. However, over the years various sections of the volunteers grew large enough to become independent regiments. The different units that emerged from the Volunteer Force were the

– a mechanized infantry company with combat support personal in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon since November 2010.[23]

Lebanon

– Sri Lanka Army's entry into South Sudan in 2014 as the newest member in the UN peace keeping family, marks a milestone in the Army history. Sri Lanka became the first country to deploy a surge contingent in South Sudan.Army maintains a SRIMED Level 2 Hospital, manned entirely by Sri Lanka's Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps personnel.[24][25]

South Sudan

– an infantry battalion with support personal that has been deployed as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in 2016[26]

Mali

Independent Brigade HQ

Commander Security Unit

A.F. Lafir  

Colonel

Lalith Jayasinghe  

Lieutenant-Colonel

K. A. Gamage  

Major

W.M.I.S.B. Walisundara  

Major

H. G. M. H. I. Megawarna  

Captain

U. G. A. S. Samaranayake  

Lieutenant

K.W.T. Nissanka  

Second Lieutenant

Pasan Gunasekera 

Warrant Officer 2nd Class

H. G. S. Bandara  

Staff Sergeant

P.N. Suranga  

Sergeant

A.M. Anura 

Sergeant

Gamini Kularatne 

Corporal

K. Chandana  

Corporal

P. M. Nilantha Pushpa Kumara  

Corporal

A. M. N. P. Abesinghe  

Corporal

W. I. M. Seneviratne  

Lance Corporal

T. G. D. R. Dayananda  

Lance-Corporal

R. M. D. M. Rathnayake  

Lance-Corporal

K.G.M. Rajapaksha  

Lance-Corporal

Sri lanka Army

SLA HJ-8.

SLA HJ-8.

BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

SLA Unibuffel.

SLA MIR weapons

SLA MIR weapons

SLA Bomb Disposal Units on Victory Day Parade.

SLA Bomb Disposal Units on Victory Day Parade.

WZ551 (Type 92) infantry fighting vehicles.

WZ551 (Type 92) infantry fighting vehicles.

Combat Rider Teams, Special Forces Regiment

Combat Rider Teams, Special Forces Regiment

Awards and decorations of the military of Sri Lanka

Uniforms of the Sri Lanka Army

Sri Lanka Army ranks and insignia

Sri Lanka National Guard

Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition – October 1999). Sri Lanka army: 50 years on, 1949–1999  978-955-8089-02-6

ISBN

Official website

Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University