| Commando Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1980 - Present |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Branch | Sri Lanka Army |
| Type | Commando |
| Role | Special operations Counter-terrorism |
| Size | 5 Regiments |
| Part of | Commando Brigade |
| Regimental Centre | Ganemulla |
| Motto | Nothing is Impossible |
| Colors | Maroon |
| Engagements | Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Maj Gen CP Gallage RWP RSP USP |
| Centre Commandant | Lt Col CHMCPK Chandrasekara |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
"COMMANDO" shoulder tab
Maroon beret with regimental cap badge |
The Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment (CR) (කොමාන්ඩෝ රෙජිමේන්තුව) is an elite special operations unit which is a Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Within one of the four Army Commando Regiments there is a 140-man counter-terrorist unit that provides the primary Counter-terrorism response for Sri Lanka. This unit was created in 1980 and is based in Ganemulla, a suburb of Colombo.[1]
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In 1977 Lt. General J.E.D Perera, founder of Commandos, issued a call to combating terrorism in Sri Lanka, a decision was made by the Army HQ to raise a special counter-terrorist unit. Maj. Sunil Peris from 1GW, Capt. Sarath Handapangoda from 1st SR and three other ranks were selected as a Core Group and training commenced in the Ella Camp, Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa.
On 9 February 1978 the first ever commando training course commenced, Lt U. Edirisinghe and Lt. L. Chandrawansa, and 24 Other Ranks were drawn from the Armoured Corps, Artillery, Engineers, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Sinha Regiment and the Gemunu Watch on a volunteer basis. Lt Percy Fernando was drawn from Officer Cadet School to assist in training. Lt. Srinath Rajapaksa, Lt. Vijitha Walikala, and four Officers volunteered for the second training course conducted at Diyatalawa. All trainees of both courses, except for aforementioned Officers, returned to their parent units after training.
A Commando squadron was formed in Gemunu Watch ‘B’ Camp at Diyatalawa and Maj S.D. Peiris GW was appointed officer commanding, and Capt. Sarath Handapangoda was appointed as 2nd In Command. Shortly after that, the Squadron received specialized training in anti-terrorist and anti – hijack techniques conducted by the members of the elite Special Air Service Regiment of Britain. The Commandos were later trained in parachuting at Agra, India and they performed their maiden display during Army Day celebrations on 10 October 1980. 4 December 1980, the Squadron moved to its new premises in Ganemulla. In 1981 the Commandos were employed in counter terrorist operations in Jaffna for the first time. It also performs special duties in the Presidential Security Division. To meet the operational requirements the Commando Regiment was expanded and a Commando Brigade was formed on the 18th of March 1997. A third regiment was formed August 1, 2007 with Maj Udith Bandara as officer commanding.
The units used 20 man teams which are split into four 4-8 man assault units. They have received training from Great Britain, India, Israel and Pakistan. Approximately 40 per cent of the Regiments are airborne qualified. The three Commando Regiments and three Special Forces Regiments are grouped into an Independent Brigade under the command of a Brigadier. Approximately 95 percent of the two Commando Regiments are airborne qualified, either in Pakistan (training now discontinued), India or at the commando training school in Ganemulla. It may operate in conjunction with the Special Boat Squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy, although this has not been confirmed. The Commando Regiment has only 4 Regular Units.
Current CR roles are believed to include:
The 3rd Commando Regiment participated in the military offensive which was launched to capture the Thoppigala (Baron's cap) from LTTE during the period of June/July 2007. They managed to seize the rocky plateau which had been named by the LTTE as Tora Bora. Around 200 LTTE cadres were killed during the entire offensive.[2]
| Preceded by President's Guard |
Order of Precedence | Succeeded by Special Forces Regiment |
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