Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

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Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Cap badge of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Active	1 October 1956 - Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Rifles
Role	Infantry/Light Role
Size	14 battalions
Regimental Centre	Ambepussa Camp, Ambepussa.
Motto	Swift and Bold
Colors	Dark green
March	Quick
Mascot	Cougar
Anniversaries	1 October (Regimental day)
Engagements	1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War and United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Decorations	2 Parama Weera Vibhushanayas and 1 Weerodara Vibhushanaya
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Brig LKJC Perera RSP
Colonel of the Regiment	Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka RWP, RSP, rcds, psc

The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalionts, five volunteer battalionts and a head quarter battalion. Headquartered at the Ambepussa Camp.

1 History
2 Units
- 2.1 Regular Army
- 2.2 Volunteers
3 Recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
4 Notable members
5 Alliances
6 Order of Precedence
7 See also
8 External links and sources

[edit] 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.

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 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 under went 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 fist Regimental Commander. Later, on 21 October 1989 the Regimental Centre was relocated at Ambepussa Camp where the 1st battalion of the Sinha Regiment was at that time. The regiment has distinguished its self greatly during the Sri Lankan Civil War including having two 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 relived by following 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 terned the battle of all battles until it was relived following Operation Balavegaya 18 days later.