Gajaba Regiment

Gajaba Regiment
Active	October 14, 1983 - Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Rifles
Role	Infantry/Light Role
Size	22 battalions
Regimental Centre	Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura.
Nickname(s)	Keterians (Battle Axes)
Motto(s)	‘Samagiya Shakthiyai' (Unity is Strength)
Colors	Light green
Anniversaries	14 October (Regimental day)
Engagements	Sri Lankan Civil War, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Decorations	2 Parama Weera Vibhushanayas
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Brigadier WMJRK Senarathna
Colonel of the Regiment	Maj Gen Shavendra Silva, WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc
Notable commanders	Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP, RSP, VSP, USP, GR †
Insignia
Identification symbol	"GAJABA" shoulder tab

The Gajaba Regiment (GR) is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura. It is named after a Sri Lankan famous warrior King Gajabahu the First.

History

The 1st battalion of the Regiment was formed on 14 October 1983 with the amalgamation of the Rajarata Rifles and Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. (later Major General) Vijaya Wimalaratne at Saliyapura Camp. The Cap badge of the Gajaba Regiment is designed with a shield, two Keteri (battle axes) and a Kandian powder flask. The regiment rapidly expanded due to the Sri Lankan Civil War, during which 3,500 officers and men of the regiment were killed.^[1]

The regiment was awarded President's Colours by H.E. President Mahinda Rajapakse on 11 January 2007. In 2008 a detachment from the regiment was sent to take part in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.^[2]

Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne, RWP, RSP, VSP, USP, GR † - Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna (SF HQ (J)) & One of the greatest generals in modern Sri Lanka
Major General Jagath Dias WWV RWP RSP USP ncd, GR - GOC 57th division in Eelam war IV & currently the Adjutant General of Sri Lanka Army.
Major General Shavendra Silva, GR - GOC 58th division in Eelam war IV & the Director General Operations of the Sri Lanka Army
Major General Kamal Gunaratne, GR - GOC 53rd division in Eelam war IV & currently commander of Security Forces Headquarters-Wanni
Lieutenant Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, GR - Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order
Major General Seevali Wanigasekara RWP, RSP VSV, USP, psc,
Corporal Ranjith Premasiri Madalana

Preceded by Gemunu Watch	Order of Precedence	Succeeded by Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

Armed Forces of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army Sri Lanka Navy Sri Lanka Air Force

Regiments and corps of the Sri Lanka Army
Combat Arms	Armoured Corps Light Infantry Sinha Regiment Gemunu Watch Gajaba Regiment Vijayabahu Regiment Mechanized Infantry Commandos Special Forces Rifle Corps National Guard
Support Arms	Artillery Engineers Signals Corps
Support Services	Military Intelligence Engineer Services Regiment Service Corps Medical Corps Ordnance Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps of Military Police General Service Women's Corps Pioneer Corps
Disbanded	Ceylon Mounted Rifles Ceylon Planters Rifle Ceylon Railway Engineer Ceylon Rifle Colombo Town Guard National Service Regiment Post and Telegraph Signals Rajarata Rifles Ruhunu Regiment President's Guard

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