Misplaced Pages

Sri Lanka Army: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:05, 2 September 2007 editSinhala freedom (talk | contribs)1,025 edits rv effort to cleanup article← Previous edit Latest revision as of 12:41, 6 January 2025 edit undoKmchannapg (talk | contribs)104 editsNo edit summary 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Land force branch of the Sri Lankan armed forces}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
{{Use Sri Lankan English|date=July 2022}}
| unit_name=Sri Lanka Army
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
| image= ]<br/> ] at the independence day parade.<br/>
{{Infobox military unit
----
| unit_name = Sri Lanka Army
<br/>]]
| native_name = {{nativename|si|ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව}}<br />{{nativename|ta|இலங்கை இராணுவம்}}
| caption=Sri Lanka Army Insignia and ]
| image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png
| dates=], ] - Present
| image_size = 180px
| country=]
| branch=] | caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army
| start_date = 1881
| type=
| dates =
| role=Foreign and Domestic Defense
| country = {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} ]
| size=120,000<ref name="USSD">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704 |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000 |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=23 |year=2001 |month=February |format=HTML |publisher=U.S. State Department }}</ref>
| allegiance =
| command_structure= ]
| branch =
|current_commander_label= ]
| type = ]
| current_commander=] ]
| role = ]
| garrison/HQ=]
| size = 150,000 personnel<ref name="downsize"/>
| ceremonial_chief=
| command_structure = ]
| colonel_of_the_regiment=
| garrison = ], ]
| nickname=
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| patron=
| nickname =
| motto=Defenders of the Nation
| patron =
| colors=
| colors = Gold, blue and orange <br /> {{color box|Gold}}{{color box|Darkblue}}{{color box|Orange}}
| march=
| colors_label = Colours
| mascot=
| march =
| battles=]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]
| mascot =
| notable_commanders=] ]
| equipment =
] ]
| equipment_label =
] ]
| battles = ]<br />]<br />
| anniversaries=]}}
{{tree list}}
*]
**]
**]{{tree list/end}}<br />]<br />]<br />]
| anniversaries = ]: 10 October<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themorning.lk/sl-celebrates-70th-army-day/|title=SL celebrates 70th Army Day|website=themorning.lk|date=10 October 2019|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418004220/https://www.themorning.lk/sl-celebrates-70th-army-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| motto = {{langx|la|]}} <br /> "For the Fatherland"
| decorations = '']''
| battle_honours =
| disbanded =
| website = {{URL|www.army.lk}}<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = ] (])
| commander1_label = ]
| commander2 = ] Lasantha Rodrigo
| commander2_label = ]
| commander3 = ] Dinesh Nanayakkara
| commander3_label = ]
| commander4 = ] M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B. Wickramasinghe
| commander4_label = ]
| notable_commanders = * ] ]
* ] ]
* ] ]
* ] ]
* ] ]
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol = ]
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
| identification_symbol_2 = ]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Presidential Colour
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
| identification_symbol_4 =
| identification_symbol_4_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_bomber =
| aircraft_electronic =
| aircraft_fighter =
| aircraft_helicopter =
| aircraft_helicopter_attack =
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo =
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole =
| aircraft_helicopter_observation =
| aircraft_helicopter_transport =
| aircraft_helicopter_utility =
| aircraft_interceptor =
| aircraft_patrol =
| aircraft_recon =
| aircraft_trainer =
| aircraft_transport =
}}
{{Sri Lanka Army}} {{Sri Lanka Army}}


The '''Sri Lanka Army''' is the oldest and largest of the ] of ]. Established as the Royal Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a ] in 1972. The Army of approximately 120,000 regular personnel and including 15,000 ]<ref name="USSD"/> is organized into 22 ]s and is responsible for overseeing ] military and ] operations. The '''Sri Lanka Army''' ({{langx|si|ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව|Śrī Laṃkā yuddha hamudāva}}; {{langx|ta|இலங்கை இராணுவம்|Ilankai iraṇuvam}}) is the oldest and largest of the ]. The army was officially established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, though the army traces its roots back in 1881 when ] was created; the army was renamed as the 'Sri Lanka Army' when Sri Lanka became a ] in 1972. In 2024, the Army had approximately 150,000 personnel.<ref name="downsize"/><ref name=":2">The Military Balance 2024, p. 313</ref>


The ] is situated in ]; ] is the highest appointment in the army who commands the army and is assisted by the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Mahesh-Senanayaka-new-Army-Commander/108-132121|title=Mahesh Senanayaka new Army Commander|website=www.dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 May 2020|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152300/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Mahesh-Senanayaka-new-Army-Commander/108-132121|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Lieutenant%20General%20Mahesh_Senanayake_appointed_as_new_Army_Commander_20170704_01 |title=Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake appointed as new Army Commander |website=www.defence.lk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704073454/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Lieutenant%20General%20Mahesh_Senanayake_appointed_as_new_Army_Commander_20170704_01 |archive-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> The ] of the ] is the ], who heads the ] through the ], which is charged with formulating, executing defence policy and procurements for the armed forces.<ref>{{cite news | title=Commander-in-Chief Completes One Year in Office | date=2007-03-08 | publisher=Media Centre for National Security | url =http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/articles/commander-in-chief.html?PHPSESSID=8a9729bc19d560d81319bc8bee3f380a | access-date = 2007-04-20 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20070928111958/http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/articles/commander-in-chief.html?PHPSESSID=8a9729bc19d560d81319bc8bee3f380a <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-28}}</ref>
The Sri Lanka Army is organized under a Joint Operations Command, which was established in 1985, and comprises 11 ]s, one air-mobile ], one ] brigade, one ] brigade, one independent armored brigade, three ] brigades and 34 ] brigades.<ref name="atimes1">{{cite news | url =http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH05Df02.html | title =Deadly arsenals dot Sri Lanka| work =Richard M Bennett|publisher = Asia Times Online|date = ], ]}}</ref>


==Background==
As a part of the Military of Sri Lanka, the ] of the Sri Lanka Army is the ].<ref>{{cite news | title=Commander-in-Chief Completes One Year in Office | date=2007-03-08 | publisher=Media Center for National Security | url =http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/articles/commander-in-chief.html?PHPSESSID=8a9729bc19d560d81319bc8bee3f380a | accessdate = 2007-04-20 }}</ref>
===Pre Anuradhapura period to the Transitional period===
Repeated incursions by South Indians, particularly the ]s, into Sri Lankan territory occurred throughout the next few centuries and led to the engagement of the rival forces in battle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/history2.php |title=Sri Lanka Army History, The Ancient Time |access-date=2007-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202064404/http://www.army.lk/history2.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-02}}</ref> In one famous encounter, Sinhalese King ] (161–37 BC) raised an army of eleven thousand in his battle against the Chola invader ], 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.<ref name="SLABOOK">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka
|title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 Years On" – 1949–1999'' |edition=1st |date=October 1999 |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |isbn=978-955-8089-02-6
|pages=1–3 |chapter=Chapter 1 }}</ref>


Other Sri Lankan ] whose military achievements stand out include ] (113–35), who sailed to India to bring back his captured soldiers, and ] (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 ]. ] (1055–1110) was another warrior king who dislodged Indian invaders and united the country. ] (1153–1186) was an outstanding monarch of the ], and his accomplishments as a military leader and a great administrator are noteworthy. His reign included a military expedition to ] 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 ] was ], who defeated Indian invaders, united the island and ruled it from capital ].<ref name="SLABOOK"/> Although the known ] records do not indicate that the Sri Lankan rulers had a full-time ] at their disposal, there is evidence supported by legend, designation, name, place and tradition that prove there were 'stand-by' ], ], and ] divisions to ensure royal authority at all times. ] were raised as the necessity arose, and the soldiers returned to their pursuits, mainly for farming, after their spell of military duty.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
== History ==
=== Ancient and pre-colonial times ===
The first military engagements in ] history were marked with the advent of ], a ]n prince who landed along with his followers on the beaches of northwestern Sri Lanka around ]. Repeated incursions by South Indians, particularly the ]s, into Sri Lankan territory occurred throughout the next few centuries and led to the engagement of the rival forces in battle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/history2.php |title=Sri Lanka Army History, The Ancient Time |accessdate=2007-02-04 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref> In one famous encounter, Sinhalese ] (200 BC) raised an army of eleven thousand inhabitants in his battle against, and eventual defeat of ], a Chola invader. King Dutugemunu's organizational skills, bravery and chivalry are famous and his battles have gone down in history as outstanding offensive operations.<ref name="SLABOOK">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka |title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999'' |year=1999 |edition=1st Edition |year=1999 |month=October |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |language=English |isbn=995-8089-02-8 |pages=1-3 |chapter=Chapter 1 }}</ref>


===Transitional period===
Other Sri Lankan ] whose military achievements stand out include King Gajabahu (113 AD) who sailed to ] to bring back his captured soldiers and King Dhatusena (433 AD) who is credited with repulsing numerous Indian invasions and for organizing a naval build-up to deter seaborne attacks. He also had the foresight to cover his defenses with ]. Vijayabahu I (1001 AD) was another warrior king who dislodged Indian invaders and united the country. ] (1153 AD), was an outstanding monarch of the ] period of Sri Lankan history and his accomplishments as a military leader and a great administrator are noteworthy. His reign included a military expedition to ] (Myanmar) in retaliation to 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 pre-colonial era was Parakramabahu VI, who defeated Indian invaders, united the island and ruled it from capital ].<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
]
] fresco]]
Although the known ] records do not indicate that the Sri Lankan rulers had a full-time ] at their disposal, there is evidence supported by legend, designation, name, place and tradition that prove there were 'stand by' ], ], and ] divisions to ensure royal authority at all times. ] were raised as the necessity arose, and the soldiers returned to their pursuits mainly for farming after their spell of military duty.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


Parts of ] came under the control of three colonial European powers, namely the ] in the 16th century, the ] in the 17th century and the ] in the 18th century. Yet, until the entire island was ceded to the British in 1815, regional kingdoms maintained most of their independent defence forces and were able to successfully repulse repeated thrusts by the European armies. However the British, unlike their counterparts, were not primarily restricted to maritime power, and thus had the capability to bring the entire island under their control and to integrate locals into the British defence forces.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
=== Colonial era ===


At the beginning of the 16th century, modern Europe first came in contact with Sri Lanka. In 1505 a ] fleet, while operating in the Indian seas against Arab traders, was blown off course and landed at ], on the southern coast of the island.<ref name="lklib-port">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/portu2.htm |title=The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505–1658) |access-date=2004-06-30 |work=WWW Virtual Library – Sri Lanka |archive-date=4 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204062550/http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/portu2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1517 the Portuguese re-appeared, and with the consent of the Sinhalese King established a trading post in ]. Having initiated contact with ] as traders, the Portuguese soon made themselves political masters of the western seaboard. Numerous forts were soon established, and features of ] was introduced.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
Parts of Sri Lanka came under the control of three colonial ]an powers, namely the ] in the 16th century, the ] in the 17th century and the ] in the 18th century. Yet, until the entire island was ceded to the British in 1815, regional kingdoms maintained most of their independent defense forces and were able to successfully repulse repeated thrusts by the European Armies. However the British, unlike their counterparts, were not primarily restricted to maritime power, and thus had the capability to bring the entire island under their control and to integrate locals into the British defense forces.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


The Portuguese are credited with the introduction of European-style ] to Sri Lanka during this era. Although some locals already possessed military training and fighting experience, there is no evidence that the Portuguese employed local inhabitants into their own forces. Thus the Portuguese were forced to restrict their presence in the island due to their small numbers and their efforts were more focused toward projecting maritime power.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
==== Portuguese and Dutch rule (1505-1796 AD) ====


In 1602 ] explorers first landed in Sri Lanka. By 1658 they had completely ousted the Portuguese from the coastal regions of the island. Much like the ], they did not employ locals in their military and preferred to live in isolation, pursuing their interests in trade and commerce. Like the Portuguese, they defended their ] with their own forces, but unlike the Portuguese, Dutch forces employed ] and ] ]. The Dutch Forts in ], ], ], ] and ] were sturdily built and are considered a tribute to their military engineering skills. Also, like the Portuguese, the Dutch focussed on maritime power and although they had the capability to develop and use local forces, they chose to isolate themselves from the local population.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
In the beginning of the sixteenth century modern Europe first came in contact with Sri Lanka, which was then referred to as Ceylon. In 1505 a ] fleet, while operating in the Indian seas against Arab traders, was blown off course and landed at ], on the southern coast of the island.<ref name='lklib-port'>{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/portu2.htm |title=The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505-1658) |accessdate=2004-06-30 |format= |work=WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka }}</ref> In 1517 the Portuguese re-appeared, and with the consent of the Sinhalese King established a trading post in ]. Having initiated contact with Sri Lanka as traders, the Portuguese soon made themselves political masters of the western sea-board. Numerous forts were soon established, and ] was introduced.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


===Kandyan period===
The Portuguese are credited with the introduction of European-style ] to Sri Lanka during this era. Although some locals already possessed military training and fighting experience, there is no evidence that the Portuguese employed locals inhabitants into their forces. The Portuguese were forced to restrict their presence in the island due to small numbers and their efforts were focused towards maritime power.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
The ] then ousted the ] from the coastal areas of the country, and sought to conquer the independent ]. In the face of repeated British assaults, the Kandyans were forced into a degree of ] and fared well against their superior British adversaries.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


Initially the British stationed their forces, which included naval vessels, artillery troops and infantry, to defend the island nation from other foreign powers, using the natural harbor of Trincomalee as their headquarters in Sri Lanka. In 1796, the Swiss and Malay mercenaries who were previously in the service of the Dutch were transferred to the ]. While the Swiss ] left in 1806 and was eventually disbanded in Canada in 1822, the Malays, who initially formed a ], were converted into the ] in 1802 and placed under a British commanding officer. In the same year, the British became the first foreign power to raise a ] unit, which was named the ], also known as the ].<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
In ] ] explorers first landed in Sri Lanka, which was then under Portuguese control. By 1658 they completely ousted the Portuguese from the coastal regions of the island. Much like the ], they did not employ locals in their military, and preferred to live in isolation pursuing their interests in trade and commerce and defending their ] with their own forces, which included ] and ] ]. The Dutch Forts in ], ], ], ] and ] were sturdily built and are considered a tribute to their military engineering skills. Also, like the Portuguese, the Dutch focused on maritime power and although they had the capability to develop and use local forces, they chose to isolate themselves from the local population.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


In 1803 the ] was created with ] and recruits from ]. All these regiments fought alongside British troops in the ] which began in 1803. Throughout the following years, more ] and Malays were recruited to these regiments, and in 1814 the 4th Regiment was raised, which was composed entirely of ] troops. It was later renamed as the ]. Eventually, the ] was ceded to the British in 1815, and with that they gained control over the whole island. ] to British occupation cropped up almost instantly. During the first half-century of occupation, the British faced a number of uprisings, and were forced to maintain a sizable army in order to guarantee their control over the island. After the ] led by ] in 1848, in which a number of Sinhalese recruits defected to the side of the rebels, the recruitment of Sinhalese to the British forces was temporarily halted.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
==== British rule (1798-1948 AD) ====


==History==
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ] of provided by 1st CLI. Parede commander Maj. ] (Later commander of the army).]] -->
===Ceylon Volunteers===

On 1 April 1881 by a proclamation issued by the ], a ] was raised in Ceylon. It was designated the ] (CLIV) in an attempt to compensated for the disbandment of the ] 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
The ] then ousted the ] from the coastal areas of the country, and sought to conquer the independent Kandyan Kingdom. In the face of repeated British assaults, the Kandyans were forced into a degree of guerrilla warfare and faired well against their superior British adversaries.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

Initially the British stationed their troops, which included naval vessels, artillery troops and infantry, to defend of the island nation from other foreign powers, using the natural harbor of ] as their headquarters in Sri Lanka. In 1796, the Swiss and Malay mercenaries who were previously in the service of the Dutch were transferred to the ]. While the Swiss ] was eventually disbanded in Canada in 1822, the Malays, who initially formed a ], were converted into the ] in 1802 and placed under a British Commanding Officer. In the same year, the British became the first foreign power to raise a ] unit, which was named the ], also known as the ] Corps.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

In 1803 a ] was created with Mollucans and recruits from ]. All these regiments fought alongside British troops in the ] which began in 1803. Throughout the following years more ] and Malays were recruited to these regiments, and in 1814 a 4th regiment was raised comprising entirely of ] troops. It was later renamed as the ]. Eventually, the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British in 1815, and with that they gained control over the whole island. ] to British occupation cropped up almost instantly. During the first half-century of occupation, the British faced a number of uprisings, and were forced to maintain a sizable army in order to guarantee their control over the island. After the ] lead by ] in 1848, in which a number of Sinhalese recruits defected to the side of the rebels, the recruitment of Sinhalese to the British forces was temporarily halted.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

;Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers

The second phase in the employment of non-British personnel commenced in 1861 after the enactment of an ordinance designed to authorize the creation of Volunteer Corps in the island. It was designated the ] (CLIV). This move compensated for the disbandment of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment in 1874. The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was originally administered as a single unit. However over the years various sections of the volunteers grew large enough to become independent from their parent unit. The different units that emerged from the Volunteer Force were the,


* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] (CMI) * ] (CMI)
* ] (CPRC)<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] (CPRC).<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


These volunteers saw active service when a contingent of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI) in 1900, and a contingent of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps (CPRC) in 1902, took part in the ] in ]. Their services were recognised by the presentation in 1902 of a ] to the CMI, and a presentation in 1904 of a ] to the CPRC.
;Ceylon Defence Force


===Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910===
{{main|Ceylon Defence Force}} {{main|Ceylon Defence Force}}
] visiting the 1st battalion of the CLI at the Echelon Square and watching volunteers being trained to handle ]s.]] ] visiting the 1st battalion of the CLI at the Echelon Square and watching volunteers being trained to handle ]s.]]


In 1910, with the enactment of the Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910, the ] (CDF) was formed bring under it all volunteer units for administrative, training and logistics purposes. It continued to grow throughout the early period of the 20th century.
In 1910 the name of the military was formerly changed to the Ceylon Defence Force (CDF). It continued to grow throughout the early period of 20th century. The CDF saw active service when a contingent of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI) in 1900, and a contingent of Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps(CPRC) in 1902, took part in the ] in ]. Their services were recognized by presentation, in 1902, of a color to the CMI, and a presentation in 1904, of a Banner to the CPRC. In 1922, the CDF was honored by the presentation of the King's and Regimental colors to the ] (CLI).<ref name="SLABOOK"/>


During the ], many volunteers from the Defence Force traveled to ] and joined the ], and many of them were killed in action. One of them mentioned by ] was ] Jacotine of the CLI, who was the last man left alive in his unit at the ], and who continued to fight for 20 minutes before he was killed.<ref name='indias-sla'>{{cite web |url=http://www.indias.com/php/wiki-Sri_Lankan_Army |title=Indias.com, Sri Lankan Army |accessdate=2006-02-04 |format= |work=Indias }}</ref> During the ], many volunteers from the Defence Force travelled to ] and joined the ], and many of them were killed in action. One of them mentioned by ] ] was ] Jacotine of the CLI, who was the last man left alive in his unit at the ],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Doyle, Arthur Conan|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/865473156|title=The Great War : the British campaign in France and Flanders|volume =1|date=2014|isbn=978-1-78394-624-2|location=London|oclc=865473156|access-date=4 July 2020|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704041706/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/865473156|url-status=live}}</ref> and who continued to fight for 20 minutes before he was killed.<ref name="indias-sla">{{cite web |url=http://www.indias.com/php/wiki-Sri_Lankan_Army |title=Indias.com, Sri Lankan Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Indias |archive-date=22 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322090140/http://www.indias.com/php/wiki-Sri_Lankan_Army |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In 1922, the CDF was honoured by the presentation of the ] to the ] (CLI).<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
In 1939, the CDF was mobilized and an enormous expansion took place which required the raising of new units such as the Post and Telegraph Signals, the Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps, the Ceylon Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the Ceylon Corps of Military Police, the ] and the ] Unit, which had been previously disbanded, but was later re-formed to meet military requirements. During the Second World War Britain assumed direct control over the Armed Forces of Ceylon.<ref name='SLALIR1'>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=History of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment, Sri Lanka Army |accessdate=2006-02-04 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref>


In 1939, the CDF was mobilised and an enormous expansion took place which required the raising of new units such as the ], the ] and also the ], which had been previously disbanded, but was later re-formed to meet military requirements. During the ], Britain assumed direct control over the Armed Forces of Ceylon.<ref name="SLALIR1">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=History of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060708103051/http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-07-08}}</ref> At the end of ], CDF which had increased in size during the war began demobilisation.
=== Post-independence ===


===Army Act No. 17 of 1949===
]
] ], ] inspecting a guard of honour wearing ].]]
In 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain, becoming a Dominion within the ] and a year earlier Ceylon entered into the bi-lateral Anglo-Ceylonese Defence Agreement of 1947. This was followed by the Army Act No. 17 of 1949 which was passed by ] on April 11, 1949, and formalised in Gazette Extraordinary No. 10028 of October 10, 1949 marked the creation of the Ceylon Army, consisting of a regular and a volunteer force, the later being the successor of the disbanded CDF.<ref name="SLA ES1">{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/org.php |title= Establishment, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060326024640/http://www.army.lk/org.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-03-26}}</ref><ref name="SLA form">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051009/plus/1.html|title=Sergei de Silva-Ranasinghe looks back at the early days of the Sri Lanka Army|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120636/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051009/plus/1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, October 10, 1949, is considered the day the Ceylon Army was raised, and as such October 10 is celebrated annually as Army Day. ] ], ] was appointed as Commandant of the Ceylon Army. The Defence Agreement of 1947 provided the assurance that British would come to the aid of Ceylon in the event it was attacked by a foreign power and provided British military advisers to build up the country's military. In November, a Ceylon Army Guard takes over duties at ] from the Guard of the ].<ref>{{cite book |title=1950 Fergusons Ceylon Directory |publisher=Fergusons |location=Colombo}}{{page?|date=November 2024}}</ref>


The ] was established in Colombo, with a ], an ], a ] and a Pay and Records Branch. Soon after the ] was established. The initial requirement was to raise an artillery regiment, an engineer squadron, an infantry battalion, a medical unit, and a service corps company. For much of the 1950s the army was preoccupied with the task of building itself and training existing and new personnel. To this aim the British Army Training Team (BATT) advisory group carried out training for ex-members of the CDF within the Ceylon Army, ]s were sent to the British Army ] and some attached to units of the ] to gain field experience. Newly recruited officer cadets were sent for training at ], stating with 10 officer cadets in 1950, which continued until the 1968 and both officers and other ranks were sent to specialist training courses in Britain, India, Pakistan and Malaya. There were no formations and all units were structured to directly function under the Army Headquarters. However temporary field headquarters were to be formed at the time requirement arose.<ref name="SLA form"/>
At the end of ], the task of returning the enormously swollen wartime CDF to its normal proportions got under way. In 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain, and in 1949 the Army Act was passed by ] raising the Ceylon Army,<ref name='SLA ES1'>{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/org.php |title= Establishment, Sri Lanka Army |accessdate=2006-02-04 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref> composed of Regular and Volunteer Forces. The initial requirement was to raise an artillery regiment, an engineer squadron, an infantry battalion, a medical unit, and a service corps company. The Army Act was enacted in parliament on the ] 1949 which is recognized as the day, the Ceylon Army was raised.


Due to a lack of any major external threats, the growth of the army was slow, and the primary duties of the army quickly moved towards internal security by the mid-1950s, the same time as the first Ceylonese Army Commander ] ] took command of the army. The first internal security operation of the Ceylon Army began in 1952, code named '']'' to counter the influx of illegal South Indian immigrants brought in by smugglers on the north-western coast, in support of ] coastal patrols and police operations. This was expanded and renamed as ] (TaFII) in 1963 and continued up to 1981 when it was disbanded. The Army was mobilised to help the police to restore peace under provincial emergency regulations during the ], the ] and in 1958 it was deployed for the first time under emergency regulations throughout the island during the ].<ref name="SLA form2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051016/plus/4.html|title=An evolving army and its role through time, Sergei de Silva- Ranasinghe's article on the early days of the Sri Lanka Army|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120639/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051016/plus/4.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
There were no formations and all units were structured to directly function under the Army Headquarters. Temporary field headquarters were to be formed at the time requirement arose, as during the 1958 communal riots. The first field formation was raised in 1963, to prevent illicit immigration from ]. This headquarters was known as Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration (TAFII), which was later disbanded in 1981. In May 1972, when ''Ceylon'' became the ''Republic of Sri Lanka'', all Army units were renamed accordingly.


During the 1950s and 1960s the army was called upon to carry to essential services when the workers went on strike which were organised by the left-wing parties and trade unions for various reasons, the most notable was the 1961 Colombo Port strike, during which ships threatened to bypass Colombo port and the country almost starved. To counter these common strikes several units were formed, who were employed in development work when there were no strikes. New regiments were formed, which included the ], ] and the ].<ref name="SLA form2"/>
=== 1970–Present ===


In 1962 several senior officers ], which was stopped hours before it was launched. Thereafter the government mistrusted the military and reduced the size and growth of the army, especially the volunteer force, disbanding several units and forming the ].
{{main|Sri Lankan Civil War}}
After successfully defeating the ] led by the ] (JVP) in 1971, the army was confronted with a new conflict, this time with the ] (LTTE) and other ]. The war escalated to the point where ] was asked to intervene as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the ] united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. The war with the LTTE was halted follwoing the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the Arny has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.


]
Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually lead to the capture of ] and other rebel strongholds.


In 1971, the Army found itself facing a full blown ], when the ] broke out in April 1971. Having been caught by surprise, as a result of failure to comprehend the magnitude of the insurgency from intelligence reports. Although completely ill-prepared to deal with an insurgency, lacking weapons, ammunition, equipment and training; the army responded quickly and successfully defeated the insurgency by the ] by mid 1971.
{| border="0"
| valign="top" |


In May 1972, when Ceylon was proclaimed a republic and changed its name from the Dominion of Ceylon to the Republic of Sri Lanka, all Army units were renamed accordingly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991010/aponline085414_000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110101147/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991010/aponline085414_000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2012|title=Sri Lanka Army Marks 50 Years|publisher=Washingtonpost, AP News|date=October 10, 1999}}</ref>
* ] (1976-1987)
* ] (1987-1990)
* ] (1990-1995)
* ] (1995-2002)
* ] (Since 2006)
* ]


By the late 1970s the army was confronted with a new conflict, this time with ] in the north of the island. The ] (LTTE) emerged as the prominent of these Tamil militant groups. The war escalated to the point where India intervened as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the ] united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. This led to a ], forcing the army to deploy its forces in the south of the island and to fight on two fronts between 1987 and 1989. The 1980s saw a massive expiation of the army from 15,000 personal to over 30,000 and more. New regiments were raised, while others were expanded with new battalions. New weapons and equipment were introduced as the war shifted from ] to ] tactics, with multi ], ] and ] scale operations. New regiments were formed which included the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ].
| valign="top" |


The war with the LTTE was halted several times for peace negotiations, the last of which following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the Army has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* Operation Kinihira II


Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually led to the recapture of ] and other rebel strongholds. On 19 May 2009 Sri Lankan army declare the victory of war as they found the dead body of LTTE leader ]. This marked the end of the war, with the LTTE ceasing to exist in Sri Lanka as a result of prolonged military offensives conducted by Sri Lanka army.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731234737/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0517/p90s01-wosc.html |date=31 July 2009 }} Christian Science Monitor – May 17, 2009</ref> The Sri Lankan Armed Forces, including the army, have been accused of committing ] during the war, particularly during the final stages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajapaksa vows to shield his army from international probe|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/rajapaksa-vows-to-shield-his-army-from-international-probe/|work=]|date=27 May 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208053041/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/rajapaksa-vows-to-shield-his-army-from-international-probe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan army agrees to probe war crimes|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/9084403/Sri-Lankan-army-agrees-to-probe-war-crimes.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/9084403/Sri-Lankan-army-agrees-to-probe-war-crimes.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=]|agency=]|date=15 February 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A ] appointed by ] ] to advise him on the issue of ] with regard to any alleged violations of ] and ] during the final stages of the civil war found "credible allegations" which, if proven, indicated that ] and ] were committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Tamil Tigers.<ref name=Island160411>{{cite news|title=Report of the UNSG's panel of experts on accountability in SL|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|newspaper=The Island, Sri Lanka|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423032125/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=TN160411>{{cite news|title=UN panel admits international failure in Vanni war, calls for investigations|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|newspaper=]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418010427/http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DM160411>{{cite news|title=Summary of UN Panel report|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|newspaper=]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=19 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419065233/http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| valign="top" |


==Deployments==
* Operation Kinihira III/IV
] in ]]]
* Operation Kinihira V/VI
* Operation Kinihira VII
* Operation Kinihira VIII
* Operation Kinihira IX


As of present, the bulk of the Sri Lankan Army is deployed for domestic defensive and combat operations, while a sizable foreign deployment is maintained.
|}


====Peacekeeping==== ===Domestic===
Due to the ] the army has been on a constant mobilized (including ]) state since the 1980s. The majority of the army has been deployed in the North and Eastern provinces of the country, which includes 14 ] coming under six operational headquarters and 2 independent Divisions and several independent ]s. The army is also based in other parts of the island for internal security including a Division for the defence of the capital.
The Sri Lanka Army has taken part in two ] missions with ]over the course of its history. First assignment was in ] (]) (1960 - 1963). Most recently, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002, Sri Lankan forces were invited by the United Nations to be part of the ] in ].<ref name="lightinf">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=Sri Lanka Light Infantry UN Peacekeeping Operations |accessdate=2007-03-16 |format=HTML |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref> The Sri Lanka Light Infantry was selected to be part of the peacekeeping operations, and training programs on counter revolutionary warfare were conducted for the troops in Kukuleganga. Follwoinf the successful completion of the training, a battalion under the command of Col. K.A.D.A. Karunasekara left for Haiti on ], ]. In the process of the peacekeeping operations, 2 soldiers were killed in a raid in Petit-Goave.<ref name="sdut-3/21/05">{{cite news | url =http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050321/news_1n21world.html| title =2 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Haiti fighting | work =|publisher = San Diego Union Tribune|date = ], ]}}</ref> After over 6 months of service, the first contingent of the peacekeeping force returned to Sri Lanka on ], ].<ref
name="lightinf"/>


== Organization == ===Foreign===
The Sri Lanka Army currently participates in several major overseas deployments:


*] – a ] ] with combat support personal in the ] since November 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=11739|title=The Island|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206201129/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=11739|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->
*] – 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 ] personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Armys_UN_Peace_Keeping_mission_opens_20140808_05|title=Army's UN Peace-Keeping mission opens a new Hospital in South Sudan|access-date=20 August 2014|archive-date=22 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822052620/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Armys_UN_Peace_Keeping_mission_opens_20140808_05|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SL Army opens new hospital in South Sudan under UN Mission – South Sudan|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/sl-army-opens-new-hospital-south-sudan-under-un-mission|access-date=2020-07-04|website=ReliefWeb|date=13 August 2014|language=en|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704152627/https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/sl-army-opens-new-hospital-south-sudan-under-un-mission|url-status=live}}</ref>
*] – an ] ] with support personal that has been deployed as part of the ] in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160904/news/sl-army-contingent-invited-for-un-peacekeeping-in-mali-207666.html|title=SL Army contingent invited for UN Peacekeeping in Mali &#124; The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=4 September 2016|archive-date=3 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903231859/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160904/news/sl-army-contingent-invited-for-un-peacekeeping-in-mali-207666.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Peacekeeping===
The staff in the Army is assigned to support the field troops. The Army ] is divided into a number of branches, namely the ] (GS) branch responsible for coordination of operations and training and the ]'s (AGs) branch responsible for personal administration, welfare, medical services and rehabilitation. The ]'s (QMGs) branch is responsible for feeding, transport, movement and construction and maintenance. The ]'s (MGOs) branch is responsible for procurement and maintenance of vehicles and special equipment.<ref name="IPCS">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Sri%20Lanka |title=Military Balance, Sri Lanka |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format= |work=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies }}</ref>
The Sri Lanka Army has taken part in two ] missions with ] over the course of its history. First assignment was in the ] (]) (1960–1963). Most recently, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002, Sri Lankan forces were invited by the United Nations to be part of the ] in ]. In the process of the peacekeeping operations, two soldiers were killed in a raid in Petit-Goave.<ref name="sdut-3/21/05">{{cite news|url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050321/news_1n21world.html|title = 2 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Haiti fighting|work = San Diego Union Tribune|date = March 21, 2005|access-date = 13 March 2007|archive-date = 4 February 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090204024436/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050321/news_1n21world.html|url-status = live}}</ref> After over 6 months of service, the first contingent of the peacekeeping force returned to Sri Lanka on May 17, 2005.<ref name="lightinf">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=Sri Lanka Light Infantry UN Peacekeeping Operations |access-date=2007-03-16 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070204125105/http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-04}}</ref> In December 2007, 7th rotation of the Sri Lankan contingent had been deployed with a force of 991 officers and other ranks, many of those deployed have been awarded the ] for their services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/02/news13.asp|title=Sri Lankan troops in Haiti honoured|access-date=2 April 2008|archive-date=5 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405180218/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/02/news13.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2007, 114 members of the 950 member Sri Lankan Army peacekeeping mission in Haiti was accused of ]<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-fg-haitisex15-story.html |title=U.N. confronts another sex scandal |access-date=2008-11-07 |date=2007-12-15 |journal=Los Angeles Times |first=Carol J. |last=Williams |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152253/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-fg-haitisex15-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC2">{{cite news | title=Sri Lanka to probe UN sex claims | date=2007-11-03 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7076284.stm | work=BBC | access-date=2007-11-05 | archive-date=4 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104190802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7076284.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> which resulted in 108 members, including three officers, being sent back after being implicated in alleged misconduct and sexual abuse where sex was exchanged for money and valuable items, with some acts considered rape as they involved those under 18.<ref name="un.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=24514|title=Haiti: Over 100 Sri Lankan blue helmets repatriated on disciplinary grounds – UN|date=2007-11-02|work=United Nations|access-date=2007-11-04|archive-date=1 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201145720/http://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=24514|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC2" /><ref>{{cite news | first=B. Muralidhar | last=Reddy | title= Part of Sri Lankan contingent in Haiti to be sent back | date=2007-11-05 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071106051401/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =2007-11-06 | work=] | access-date = 2007-11-05 }}</ref><ref name="UN3">{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080330/News/news0015.html |title=UN confirms sex charges |access-date=2008-03-30 |date=2008-03-30 |work=Sundaytimes |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061411/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080330/News/news0015.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2019, a Sri Lankan army officer and trooper on ] were killed and three more wounded when their convoy came under an ] attack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/SL-army-contingent-attacked-in-Mali-Two-killed-three-injured-/108-161558|title=SL army contingent attacked in Mali; Two killed, three injured|website=www.dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 May 2020|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152304/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/SL-army-contingent-attacked-in-Mali-Two-killed-three-injured-/108-161558|url-status=live}}</ref> The incident prompted the army to accelerate its ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|title=New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME &#124; The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331053906/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


Sri Lanka Army's newest contingent of 243 professionally-trained Army personnel in the Combat Convoy Company (CCC), well-prepared to serve in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) left the island on 21 April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/04/21/another-army-contingent-leaves-for-mali-on-peacekeeping-mission/|title = Another Army contingent leaves for Mali on peacekeeping mission|date = 21 April 2021|access-date = 30 April 2021|archive-date = 26 September 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152255/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/04/21/another-army-contingent-leaves-for-mali-on-peacekeeping-mission/|url-status = live}}</ref>
Each branch is headed by an officer in the rank of ] who is directly responsible to the Commander of the Army for the smooth functioning of the Branch. The Military Secretary's Branch, headed by a senior ], is responsible for handling all matters pertaining to officers such as ], postings and ]. Under each Branch, there are several Directorates, each headed by a Brigadier.<ref name="IPCS"/>


==Organization structure==
The Headquarters of field formations each have its own staff. For instance a divisional headquarters is divided into a GS branch as an AQ branch, each headed by a ] and is responsible for operations & training and administration & logistics respectively. Similarly, a ] ] and Major AQ is responsible for ] and administration in a brigade.<ref name="IPCS"/>
The professional head of the army is the ]. He is assisted by the ] and a ]. The ] is head of the ] and is responsible for the administration and recruitment of all reserve units and personal. The ], housed in the ] in ] is the main administrative and the operational ] of the Sri Lanka Army.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Army Establishment {{!}} Sri Lanka Army {{!}} Organization structure|url=https://www.army.lk/establishment|access-date=2020-07-04|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602124301/https://www.army.lk/establishment|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Administrative===
Various formations are also raised from time to time to suit various security requirements in the country. The Army is currently organized into divisions and brigades. Each division is responsible for a particular area and it is commanded by a ] in the rank of ]. Except for the division based in Panagoda, all other divisions are responsible for the security in the ] and ] provinces of Sri Lanka. The area assigned to a particular division is further divided into areas where the responsibility of those areas are assigned to ]s. Each brigade is commanded by an officer in the rank of ] and has a number of ] ], support arms (], ] and ]) and services arms (Service Corps, Engineering Services, Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) under its command. In peaceful areas, instead of brigades, there are Area and Sub-Area Headquarters. ], ], ] and ] Units are grouped under Brigade Headquarters of their own arm; Armored Brigade, Artillery Brigade and so on.
The ] is divided into a number of branches, namely the ] (GS) branch responsible for coordination of operations and training and the ]'s (AGs) branch responsible for personal administration, welfare, medical services, and rehabilitation. The ]'s (QMGs) branch is responsible for feeding, transport, movement, and construction and maintenance. The ]'s (MGOs) branch is responsible for procurement and maintenance of vehicles and special equipment.<ref name="IPCS">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Sri%20Lanka |title=Military Balance, Sri Lanka |access-date=2007-03-14 |work=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061002155351/http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Sri+Lanka <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-10-02}}</ref> The ]'s Branch is responsible for handling all matters pertaining to officers such as ], postings and ]. Each branch is headed by an officer in the rank of ] who is directly responsible to the Commander of the Army for the smooth functioning of the Branch. Under each Branch, there are several Directorates, each headed by a ].<ref name="IPCS"/>


The headquarters of field formations each have its own staff. For instance a divisional headquarters is divided into a GS branch as an AQ branch, each headed by a ] and is responsible for operations & training and administration & logistics respectively. Similarly, a ] ] and Major AQ is responsible for ] and administration in a ].<ref name="IPCS"/>
Like the ], the Sri Lanka Army has largely retained the ]-style regimental system that it inherited upon independence. The individual ]s (such as the Sri Lanka Light Infantry and the Sinha Regiment) operate independently and recruit their own members. Officers tend to remain in a single ] throughout their careers. The ] battalion, the basic unit of organization in field operations, includes five companies of four platoons each. Typical platoon have three squads (sections) of ten personnel each. In addition to the basic infantry forces, a ] regiment was also established in 1986. Support for the infantry is provided by two ] regiments (one regular, one reserve), two field ] regiments (one regular, one reserve), one ] regiment, one ] regiment, one engineering plant regiment, one ] battalion, a ], and a variety of logistics units.<ref name="PC">{{cite web |url=http://www.photius.com/countries/sri_lanka/national_security/sri_lanka_national_security_the_army.html |title=Sri Lanka, The Army |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format= |work=Photius Coutsoukis }}</ref>


Like the ], the Sri Lanka Army has largely retained the British-style regimental system that it inherited upon independence. The individual ]s (such as the ] and the ]) operate independently and recruit their own members. Officers tend to remain in a single ] throughout their careers. The ] battalion, the basic unit of organization in field operations, includes five companies of four platoons each. Typical platoon has three squads (sections) of ten personnel each. In addition to the basic infantry forces, a ] regiment was also established in 1986. Support for the infantry is provided by an ] regiment, five ] regiments, three ] regiments, five field ] regiments, a ] regiment, three commando regiments, three special forces regiments, six ] regiments, five ] battalions, a ], and a variety of logistics units.<ref name="PC">{{cite web|title=Training {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/training|access-date=2020-07-04|work=Sri Lanka Army|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602071453/https://www.army.lk/training|url-status=live}}</ref>
In late 1987, the army had a total estimated strength of up to 40,000 troops, about evenly divided between regular army personnel and reservists on active duty. The approximately 20,000 regular army troops represented a significant increase over the 1983 strength of only 12,000. Aggressive recruitment campaigns following the 1983 riots raised this number to 16,000 by early 1985.<ref name="PC"/> By 2007, the Army had expanded to over 120,000 personal.<ref name="USSD"/>


=== Regiments and training centers === ===Regiments and corps===
{{main|List of current Sri Lanka Army regiments and corps}}<ref name="SLA ES1"/>
{{static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text"
!Name !! Headquarters/Regimental Centre !! Regular Units !! Volunteer Units !!Headquarters Units
|-
|''']'''
|]
|5
|2
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|9
|2
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|10
|2
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|10
|1
|1
|-
|''']'''
|]
|16
|6
|1
|-
|''']'''
|]
|14
|6
|1
|-
|''']'''
|]
|15
|6
|1
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|14
|6
|1
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|15
|6
|1
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|4
|1
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|4
|0
|1
|-
|''']'''
|]
|4
|0
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|4
|2
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|7
|9
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|7
|2
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|4
|1
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|6
|1
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|7
|1
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|7
|0
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|3
|3
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|2
|2
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|0
|2
|0
|-
| ''']'''
|]
|0
|2
|0
|-
|''']'''
|]
|0
|19
|1
|-
|}


===Operational command===
'''Regiments'''<ref name="SLA ES1"/>
Organized and controlled by the Army General Staff at Army HQ, various formations are raised from time to time to suit various security requirements and operations in the country and overseas. The Army at present has deployed 12 ], 7 ]s and several independent ]s. Except for the ] based at the ] which is responsible for the maintenance of capability for the defence of the capital, all other divisions, task forces and brigades are deployed for operations in the ] and ] provinces of Sri Lanka, coming under five regional ] known as ''Security Forces Headquarters'', which are the Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna (]), Wanni (]), East (]), Mullaittivu (]), West (]) and Central (]). One Security Forces Headquarters, the ] was disbanded in 2021.


Each SFHQ and most divisions are commanded by a ] in the rank of ]. A SFHQ has several divisions under its command and each division is further divided into ]s. Each brigade is commanded by an officer in the rank of ] and has a number of ] ]s, support arms (], ] and ]) and support services (Service Corps, Engineering Services, Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) under assigned to it. There are also several administrative brigades (Artillery Brigade, Armoured Brigade, etc.) and the ].
* ] ''']''' (SLAC) - formed in 1955
::: ''The first ever-] unit of the Ceylon Army. Currently comprises 6 divisions, and armed with T 55 Main Battle tanks, T 85 Light Tanks, T 86 Armoured Cars, BMP Is. Iis, T 63- II APC and BTR 80/80A. APCs. Headquartered at Rock House Army Camp, Colombo.''
* ] ''']''' (SLA) - formed in 1888
::: ''The first Sri Lankan ] regiment. Currently consists of 7 regular and 2 volunteer units equiped with 85 mm and 25 pounder field guns, 122 mm howitzers, 76 mm mountain guns, 130 mm and 152 mm medium guns and 120 mm mortars. Also participated in the defense of colonial Ceylon during the two World Wars. Headquartered at ], Panagoda.''
* ] ''' ]''' (SLE) - formed in 1911
:::''Formed as part of the Ceylon Defence Force with the purpose of manning coastal search lights and ] works. Currently consists of 5 regular units and 1 volunteer unit and performs classical combat engineering duties, constructs roads and bridges and maintains lines of communications. Headquartered at Sri Lanka Army Headquarters, Colombo.''
* ] ''' ]''' (SLSC) - formed in 1943
:::''Formed after the signals element of the Engineers was separated from the main regiment, it was tasked with providing ] between Army HQ and its branches. Currently comprises 5 regular units and 1 volunteer unit and provides much needed communications to combat troops. Headquartered at ], Panagoda.''
* ] ''']''' (SLLI) -
:::''Following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002, the Sri Lankan military was invited by the United Nations to be part of a ] in ]. The Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment was selected for the mission, and it left for Haiti after initial training in 2004 and returned in 2005. Headquartered at ], Panagoda.''
* ] ''' ]''' (SLSR) - formed in 1956
:::''The only ] of the Sri Lanka Army, it was founded on the same lines at the Rifle Regiments in Great Britain. Currently consisting of 10 regular units and 5 volunteer units, it does not carry regimental colors in action in order to be inconspicuous, and the buttons, badges of rank and lanyard of the regiment dress are all in black. Headquartered at Ambepussa Army Camp.''
* ] ''' ]''' (GW) - formed in 1962
:::''Formed following the withdrawal of all British troops from Sri Lanka, it draws its inspiration as well as its insignia from the era of celebrated King ]. Currently it consists of 9 regular units and 4 volunteer units, and all these battalions are actively participating in the on going conflict. Headquartered at Kuruwita Army Camp.''
* ] ''' ]''' (GR) - formed in 1983
:::''Formed by Lt.Col. ] when the 1st Battalion of the ] and 1st Battalion of the ] were amalgamated. Currently consists of 10 Regular units and 5 Volunteer units. Headquartered at Saliyapura Military Base, Anuradapura.''
* ] ''' ]''' (VIR) - formed in 1988
:::''Formed on ], 1988 at Malay Street with Lt.Col. J.Nammuni (SLSR) as first Commanding Officer. Currently the youngest infantry regiment in the Sri Lanka Army, consisting of 8 Regular units and 4 Volunteer units. The Regimental Centre initially at Sinhawilluwatta in Puttalam, presently headquartered at Boyagane Camp, Kurunegala.''
* ] ''' ]''' (CR) - formed in 1977
:::''Formed as a special unit to combat terrorism, upgraded to a full regiment in 1986 under Lt. Col S.D Peiris. Receives specialized training in anti-terrorist and anti–] techniques, and ] operations. Consisting of 2 Regular units, takes part in most major military operations, and also performs special duties in the Presidential Security Division. Headquartered at Ganemulla.''
* ] ''' ]''' - formed in 1986
:::''Evolved from the “Combat Tracker Team”, which was tasked to carry out small group operations deep inside enemy territory. Conducts ] and ] in remote, urban or rural environments, either as a “deep penetration unit” force or for extended missions. Consists of 3 Regiments and has the distinction of taking part in almost all major offensives conducted by the Army since 1986. Headquartered at Seeduwa.''
* ] ''' ]''' - formed in 1990
:::''Collects, collates and provides ] for the successful conduct of military operations. Combat intelligence units provide intelligence on the enemy’s organizational capabilities, tactics and intentions. Currently consists of 2 Regular units. Headquartered at Colombo.''
* ] ''' Engineer Services Regiment''' - formed in 1991
:::''Initially formed as part of the Corps of Engineers to maintain Army buildings and the Panagoda Cantonment, it was later redesigned as a separate regiment. Consisting of 3 Regular units and 1 Volunteer unit, it currently designs, constructs and maintains all buildings, roads and associated facilities used by the Sri Lanka Army. Headquartered at ], Panagoda.''
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at ], Panagoda.
* ] ''']''' Headquartered at ].
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at ], Panagoda.
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at Colombo.
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at ].
* ] ''' Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps''' Headquartered at ], Panagoda.
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at ].
* ] ''' ]'''
* ] ''' Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps'''
* ] ''' ]''' Headquartered at ].


In other parts of the country, there are Area and Sub-Area Headquarters. ], ], ] and ] Units are grouped under Brigade Headquarters of their own arm; Armoured Brigade, Artillery Brigade and so on.
'''Training Centers'''<ref name='army-train'>{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/train.php |title= Training, Sri Lanka Army |accessdate=2006-02-04 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref>


===Formations===
]
{{main|List of current Sri Lanka Army formations}}
<!--;]-->
;]
* Independent Brigade HQ
* Commander Security Unit


# ] (ACSC) ;]
# Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA)
# Army Training School (ATS)
# Infantry Training Centre I(TC)
# Combat Training School (CTS)
# Army Physical Education Centre (APEC)
# Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS)
# Marksman Sniper Training School (MSTS)
# Non Commission Officer Training School (NCOTS)
# Language Training School (LTS)
# Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOT-SL)


;], based in ]
=== Training ===
*Reserve Strike Force
**], based at Inamaluwa, ]<ref name="div"/>
*** ]
*** 532 Brigade
*** 533 Brigade
**]
*** 581 Brigade
*** 582 Brigade
*** 583 Brigade
*Special Operations Force
** Commando Brigade
** Special Forces Brigade


;] (SFHQ-J)
].]]
* ], based in ]
** 511 Brigade
** 512 Brigade
** 513 Brigade
* ], based in the ]
** 521 Brigade
** 522 Brigade
** 523 Brigade
* ], based in ], ]<ref name="div"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916065912/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/01/sec02.asp |date=2011-09-16 }}</ref>
** 551 Brigade
** 552 Brigade
** 553 Brigade


;] (SFHQ-W)<ref name="div"/>
Training for the Army personnel is mostly provided at the Army Training Center situated in Diyatalawa, in the ] District, ]. There are three separate facilities included in the center. These are the Sri Lankan Military Academy, the ]s' School and the Recruit Training School. The ] was established in 1981 encompassing the former Officers' Cadet School and the Officers' Study Center. The Military Academy provides training in tactics and administration in the late 1980s, and the graduates from the academy were commissioned as officers in the regular forces. The course of the officer ]s runs for ninety weeks and it helps prepare the cadets to take up the positions of ] commanders. The course consisted of military and academic subjects and also trained the cadets ]. The course helps to promote ] qualities and the understanding of each one’s role as an officer and a servant of the state. Due to the lack of officers within the lower levels, the training process was sped up in the 1980s by developing a short commission course. The cadets were given a training of fifty-six weeks and devoted themselves to continue their careers in the military with the five years of service. There were approximately three hundred recruits at a time in the Army Training Centre and in 1982 including 18 officers. Required additional training is given by individual field units.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC">{{cite web |url=http://www.photius.com/countries/sri_lanka/national_security/sri_lanka_national_security_the_army.html |title=Sri Lanka, The Army |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format= |work=Photius Coutsoukis }}</ref>
* Area Headquarters Mannar, ]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


;] (SFHQ-E)
Training for cadets is provided at the ] formed in 1981 and situated in Ratmalana, fourteen kilometers south of ]. Each year, approximately fifty cadets are admitted to the academy (aged 18-22) to participate in a three-year program of academic and basic training based work. The graduates follow up their studies at a regular university until they take up a full-time career in the military services.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>
* ], based in ]<ref name="Div4"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802021713/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/14/spo10.asp |date=2008-08-02 }}</ref>
* ], based in Poonani, ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081123/Columns/sitreport.html|title=Columns – Situation Report|publisher=|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123158/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081123/Columns/sitreport.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ]


;] (SFHQ-MLT)<ref name="div"/>
As the armed forces of Sri Lanka have a limited indigenous training facilities, especially in advanced roles, they have depended greatly on military training provided by foreign countries. The ] played a major role in the early years following independence and have continued to be an important source of military expertise to the Sri Lankan military. Other sources include ], ], ], and the ]. Additionally, in an agreement reached in 1984, ] security personnel (reportedly from ], the Israeli ] and internal security organization) trained army officers in ] techniques.<ref name="PC"/>
* ], operating in the ]
* 64 Division, operating in the ]
* 68 Division, Kombavil, ]
<!--* Task Force 2, operating in the ]-->


;] (SFHQ-W)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=1287|title=Sri Lanka Army – Defenders of the Nation|access-date=6 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219052144/http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=1287|archive-date=19 December 2014}}</ref>
=== Women in the Sri Lanka Army ===
*], based in ], ] (formerly Operation Command Colombo)
**141 Brigade, based in ]
**142 Brigade, based in ] and ]
**143 Brigade, based in ] and ]
*61 Division
<!--*58 Division
**581 Brigade, based in ]
**583 Brigade, based in ]
**583 Brigade, based in ]-->


;] (SFHQ-C)
]
* ]
** ] based in ]
** 112 Brigade, based in ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Army - Defender of the Nation |url=https://www.army.lk/news/112-brigade-troops-do-more-welfare-activities |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=www.army.lk |language=en}}</ref>
*]
** 121 Brigade, based in ]
** 122 Brigade, based in ]


;Army Training Command
{{main|Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps}}
The ] (SLAWC) was formed on ] ] as an unarmed, ] ]. Set up with the assistance of the ], it was identical in structure to its parent organization, and its first generation of ] was trained in Britain. Candidates were required to be between eighteen and twenty years old and to have passed the ] examinations, while the Officer candidates must have passed the ]. Enlistment entailed a five-year service commitment (the same as for men), and recruits were not allowed to marry during this period. In the sixteen-week training course at the Army Training Center at the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy, cadets were put through a program of drill and physical training similar to the men's program, with the exception of weapons and battle craft training. Female recruits were paid according to the same scale as the men, but were limited to service in ], ], and ]. In late 1987, the first class of women graduates from the Viyanini Army Training Center were certified to serve as army instructors. But, from late 1987 - after hostilities began, the first batch of women graduates from the British Army's Women's Corp Center certified to serve as Army Instructors.<ref name='whistory'>{{cite web |url=http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_sri_lanka_women_military.htm |title=Sri Lankan Army Women's Corps |accessdate=2007-02-04 |format= |work=About, Inc }}</ref>


;Logistic Command
Up to now, women officers have proved their ability and serve in varied specialized fields in the Service as ], ], radio material teletypists, ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and even ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/10/08/zin01.asp |title=An officer and a lady: You've come a long way, lass. |accessdate=2006-10-08 |format= |work=Sunday Observer }}</ref>


;Specialist Formations
To meet the operational requirements in the field areas, the 2nd Volunteer ] of the Women’s Corps was also raised. A few officers from the regular counter part were attached to this unit to organize the command structure. They are currently employed in active combat duties in the ] and ] parts of the island.
* Engineers Division
* Armoured Brigade
* Artillery Brigade
* ]
* Signals Brigade
* Corps of Agriculture and Livestock


==Training==
Many officers commencing with ] A.W. Thambiraja were appointed to command this unit from time to time. The first women’s corps officer to command the unit was Lieutenant Colonel Kumudini Weerasekara in 1992. At present there is one regular regiment and four volunteer regiments in the Women’s Corps.<ref name='sla-women'>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/regiment_regular_19.php |title=Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, Sri Lanka Army |accessdate=2007-02-04 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Army }}</ref>
{{See also|Sri Lanka Armed Forces Training Institutions|List of military academies in Sri Lanka}}
At the formation of the Ceylon Army in 1949, the need to train a standing army was felt strongly since the Ceylon Defence Force had operated on a regimental training model to maintain the efficiency of its volunteers culminating with the annual two week training camp at the ] of ], in the ] which became the traditional training grounds for the newly formed army. The '''Army Recruit Training Depot''' was established in Diyatalawa in 1950 and later renamed as the '''Army Training Centre'''. Officer cadets were sent to the ], along with specialized training at trade schools of the British Army, while officers of ] were sent to the ] and to the ]. With the economic limitations in the 1960s, focus was given for local training in order to save foreign exchange. The army initiated basic officer training at the Army Training Centre in 1968. With the rapid expansion of the army in the 1980s and 1990s saw the establishment of local specialist and trade schools, along with staff colleges and a defence university. At present the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) with its headquarters at Diyatalawa formulates all training doctrine of the army and all its training centres. ARTRAC directs all army training establishments, regimental training establishments and battalion training schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Training {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/training|access-date=2020-07-04|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602071453/https://www.army.lk/training|url-status=live}}</ref>


All pre-commissioning training for officers are carried out at the ''']''' (SLMA) (formally the '''Army Training Centre''') and at the ''']''' (VFTS) situated in Diyatalawa. The officer cadets graduating from SLMA are commissioned as officers in the regular and volunteer forces, while VFTS conducts shorter commissioning courses for prospective officers for the volunteer force and the ]. The course for officer cadets runs for ninety weeks and includes training in tactics and administration which helps prepare the cadets to take up the positions of ] and ] commanders. The course consisted of military and academic subjects and also trained the cadets ]. The course helps to promote ] qualities and the understanding of each one's role as an officer and a servant of the state. Due to the lack of officers within the lower levels, the training process was sped up in the 1980s by developing a short commission course. The cadets were given a training of fifty-six weeks and devoted themselves to continue their careers in the military with the mandatory ten years of service for regular army officers and five years of service for volunteer officers. Once completing their basic training at SLMA, junior officers would receive specialized training at training centres which would include young officers courses in their area of specialization followed by advanced training on weapon systems.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>
== Rank structure ==
{{main|Military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Army}}


Selected ]s attended command and staff courses at the ] followed by the ] at the ''']''' (DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which was established in 1997 as the Army Command and Staff College. Officers may attend specialist long courses such as the Logistics Staff Course that is conducted at the ''']''' which was established in 2011. Senior field officers with the potential to advance to general officer rank are selected to attend the prestigious ] (NDC) in ] which is the highest level of military training in Sri Lanka.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>
Following are the Sri Lanka Army ranks and their equivalent ] designations.
The ''']''' (KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in ], fourteen kilometres south of ], as only university specializing in defence studies in the island. Each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18–22) to participate in a three-year programme of academic work and as sent to their service academies for their final year of training. In addition KDU conducts postgraduate and masters programs in defence related subjects for officers who attend staff and defence courses at DSCSC and NDC.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>


Training for the new recruits are carried out by the ''']''' in Maduru Oya and at several locations by training battalions, followed by additional specialized training in arms or trade at training centres such as the ''']''' in Minneriya and the '''Combat Training School''' in Ampara.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>
==== Commissioned Officer ranks ====


At its formation the armed forces of Sri Lanka had limited indigenous training facilities, especially in technical and advanced roles, they have depended greatly on military training provided by foreign countries. The United Kingdom played a major role in the early years following independence and have continued to be an important source of military expertise to the Sri Lankan military. Other sources include India, Pakistan, the United States, Australia and Malaysia. Additionally, in an agreement reached in 1984, Israeli security personnel (reportedly from ], the Israeli ] and internal security organisation) trained army officers in ] techniques. With the rapid expansion of the army, in recent years it has expanded its training facilities locally.<ref name="PC"/>
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"


The Sri Lankan Army has also provided special training to the ] on their request as well as many other countries in military education regarding civilian rescue, jungle combat, and guerilla warfare etc.<ref name="colombopage.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/May15_1273933283JR.php|title=Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Army to train US Army|date=15 May 2010|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205458/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/May15_1273933283JR.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- align=center
{{col-begin}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''NATO Code'''||OF-9<sup>(1)</sup>||OF-8||OF-7||OF-6||OF-5||OF-4||OF-3||OF-2||colspan=2|OF-1


===Training establishments===
|- align=center
{{col-2}}
||{{SRI||Sri Lanka}}
'''Training Centres'''<ref name="army-train">{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/train.php |title= Training, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060410062148/http://www.army.lk/train.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-04-10}}</ref>
|| ]
# ] (SLMA)
|| ]
# ] (AWC)
|| ]
# ] (ASL)
|| ]
# ] (VFTS)
|| ]
# ] (ATS)
|| ]
# ] (ITC)
|| ]
# Combat Training School (CTS)
|| ]
# Army Physical Education Centre (APEC)
|| ]
# Marksman Sniper Training School (MSTS)
|| ]
# Centre for Army Vocational Training (CAVT)
<!--# Non-Commission Officer Training School (NCOTS)
# Language Training School (LTS)-->
# Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOT-SL)


{{col-2}}
|- align=center
'''Regimental Training Centres'''<ref name="army-train"/>
||Title
# Armoured Corps Training Centre
|| ]
# ]
|| ]
# ]
|| ]
# Sri Lanka Signal Corps Training School
|| ]
# Mechanized Infantry Training Centre
|| ]
# Commando Regiment Training School
|| ]
# Commando Regimental Special Warfare Training School
|| ]
# Special Forces Training School
|| ]
# Special Forces Combat Diving Training School
|| ]
# Special Forces Jungle Warfare Training School
|| ]
# Military Intelligence Training School
# Airmobile Training School
# Engineer Services Trade School
# Army Service Corps Training School
# Sri Lanka Army Military School of Nursing
# Sri Lanka Army Ordnance School
# Sri Lanka Electrical And Mechanical Engineers School
# Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police School
# Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps Trade School
{{col-end}}


==Personnel==
|- align=center
As of 2024 the Sri Lanka Army had 150,000 personnel.<ref name="downsize"/> In 2023 the army had 200,783 personnel and the number was reduced to 150,000 in 2024.<ref name="downsize">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front-page/Sri-Lankas-plan-to-downsize-military-Tri-forces-halt-general-recruitment/238-276984#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20State%20Minister%20of,efforts%20to%20overhaul%20its%20finances.|title=Sri Lanka's plan to downsize military Tri-forces halt general recruitment|work=dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 March 2024|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926151222/https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front-page/Sri-Lankas-plan-to-downsize-military-Tri-forces-halt-general-recruitment/238-276984#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20State%20Minister%20of,efforts%20to%20overhaul%20its%20finances.|url-status=live}}</ref>
||Abbreviation||Gen||Lt Gen||Maj Gen||Brig||Col||Lt Col||Maj||Capt||Lt||2Lt||OCdt
|- align=center


In late 1987, the army had a total estimated strength of up to 40,000 troops, about evenly divided between regular army personnel and reservists on active duty. The approximately 20,000 regular army troops represented a significant increase over the 1983 strength of only 12,000. Aggressive recruitment campaigns following the 1983 riots raised this number to 16,000 by early 1985.<ref name="PC"/> By 1990 the army had expanded to over 90,000 personnel and by 2007, it had expanded to over 120,000.<ref name="USSD">{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010607063826/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2001 |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2000 |access-date=2007-03-23 |date= February 23, 2001 |publisher=U.S. State Department }}</ref>
|-
|colspan=5|
* <sup>1</sup> Awarded only when selected as Chief of Defence Staff.


Since the Sri Lankan armed forces are ] services, all personal in the Sri Lanka Army have volunteered as regular personnel or reservists. This should not be confused with the traditional term ''volunteers'' used for reservists or reservist units. Recruitment of the personal are carried island wide with a restrictions in the northern and eastern provinces during the civil war in those areas. The ] is the only territorial unit that carries out recruitment from a specific area.
|}


==== Other enlisted ranks==== ===Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients===
The ] is the highest award for valour awarded in the Sri Lankan armed forces. Army recipients include;
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] W.M.I.S.B. Walisundara {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] H. G. M. H. I. Megawarna {{KIA}}
* ] U. G. A. S. Samaranayake {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] ]{{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] P.N. Suranga {{KIA}}
* ] A.M. Anura{{KIA}}
* ] ]{{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] P. M. Nilantha Pushpa Kumara {{KIA}}
* ] A. M. N. P. Abesinghe {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] T. G. D. R. Dayananda {{KIA}}
* ] R. M. D. M. Rathnayake {{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] K.G.M. Rajapaksha {{KIA}}


===Notable fallen members===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
Over 23,790 Sri Lankan armed forces personnel were killed since the begin of the civil war in 1981 to its end in 2009, this includes 12 general officers killed in active duty or assassinated.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/victorys-price-6200-sri-lankan-troops-20090522-bi4f.html |title=Victory's price: 6,200 Sri Lankan troops |publisher=News.smh.com.au |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=30 May 2009 |archive-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525143750/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/victorys-price-6200-sri-lankan-troops-20090522-bi4f.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 659 service personnel were killed due to the second ] from 1987 to 1990. 53 service personnel were killed and 323 were wounded in the first ] from 1971 to 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html|title=The Sunday Times – Special Assignment|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225901/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Notable fallen members include;
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''NATO Code''' || colspan=2|OR-8 || OR-7 || OR-6 || OR-5 || OR-4 || OR-3 || OR-2 || OR-1
|- align=center
| |{{SRI||Sri Lanka}}
| | ]
| | ]
| | ]
| colspan=2|]
| | ]
| | ]
| colspan=2|''No Insignia''
|- align=center
| |Title
| |[[Regimental Sergeant Major|Warrant Officer
1st Class]]
| |[[Sergeant Major|Warrant Officer
2nd Class]]
| |]
| colspan=2|]
| |]
]
| |]
]
| colspan=2|]
|- align=center
| Abbreviation || WO1 || WO2 || S/Sgt || colspan=2|Sgt || Cpl || L/Cpl || colspan=2|Pte
|- align=center
|}


* Lt. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – ], ].<ref name="Daily News1">{{cite news | first=Ramani | last=Kanagaraarachchi | title=Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice | date=2007-01-20 | publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp | work=Daily News | access-date=2007-05-25 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023555/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp | archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref>
== Personnel ==
* Lt. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former ].<ref name="Daily News1"/>
* Lt. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former ], 3 Division.<ref name="Spice">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023555/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp|url-status=dead|title=Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
* Maj. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former Jaffna Brigade Commander.<ref name="Daily News1"/>
* Maj. Gen. ] {{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 22 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former deputy ], 54 Division.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-4 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-2 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. ] – Former ], ] of Northern Sector, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 53 Division.
* Maj. Gen. ]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-2 Brigade.<ref>{{cite news | first=Brigadier Daya | last=Ratnayake | title=Noble in death as in life | date=2005-07-30 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. | url=http://sundaytimes.lk/050703/plus/appreciation.html | work=The Sunday Times | access-date=2007-08-18 | archive-date=1 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201140951/http://sundaytimes.lk/050703/plus/appreciation.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Brig. ] {{KIA}} – Former Commander, Northern Command
* Brig. ] {{KIA}} – former Brigade commander, 54-1 brigade
* Brig. ] {{KIA}} – former Brigade commander, Elephant Pass.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Col. ] {{KIA}} – Former commanding officer 1st Battalion Military Intelligence Corps.<ref>{{cite news | first=Senaka | last=De Silva | title=Senior Army officer shot dead | date=2005-06-01 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. | url =http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/06/01/front/1.asp | work =Daily Mirror | access-date = 2007-06-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224634/http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/06/01/front/1.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-30}}</ref>
* Maj. ] {{KIA}} – first army officer killed in action (during the ]).


===Directorate of Rehabilitation===
The Sri Lanka Army presently stands at 118,000 strong including 2,960 women plus an additional 10,000 personal in reserve.<ref name='sec-ecpa'>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Sri-Lanka-ARMED-FORCES.html |title=Sri Lanka |accessdate=2007-02-04 |format= |work=Nations Encyclopedia }}</ref>
The Directorate of Rehabilitation was established with the intention and focus towards the rehabilitation of Officers and Other Ranks Wounded in Action. However, with the increase of a number of casualties due to the operations, the Sri Lanka Army proceeded to utilize the services of battle casualties with the view of obtaining a productive service from these individuals. As a result, under mentioned institutes had been established.<ref name="DIRECTORATE OF REHABILITATION">{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-army-2015.pdf |title=Directorate of Rehabilitation |access-date=2017-04-10 |work=About, Inc. |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602054758/http://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-army-2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranaviru Sevana
* Ranaviru Apparels
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 1 (])
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 2 (])
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 3 (])
* Ranaviru Resources Centre
* Mihindu Seth Medura
===Women in the Sri Lanka Army===
Making a corps for women was dreamed by former ] ] ] who became commander in October 1977. Gen. Perera sought help from the ]'s ] and in 1978 three females were sent to Britain for officer training. They returned to Sri Lanka in August 1979 after completion of eight months of training. The ''']''' was officially formed on September 14, 1979, with one battalion (the 1st regular battalion).


The first three female cadets to enroll the army were K.C. Jayaweera, M.P Wijegunawardena and V.P. Senevitathna (trained in Britain) and the first batch of female cadets to be trained in Sri Lanka was commissioned from the ] on 18 August 1984.<ref name="History of SLAWC">{{cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/slawc/1-slawc|title=History Of 1 SLAWC|website=alt.army.lk/slawc}}</ref> On 16 October 1980, ten women were recruited for ] training and were given the basic Army training at the Army Training Centre, ]. These N.C.O.s passed out in November 1980. The three officers and ten N.C.O.s participated at the ] celebrations held at the ] for the first time in 1981 and Women's Corps has been a part of the country's Independence celebrations ever since.<ref name="History of SLAWC"/> Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) A.W. Thambiraja (male) was the first ] of the 1st regular battalion (1 SLAWC) and Major K.C. Weerasekara was promoted to Lt. Col. in 1993; she was the first woman to be promoted to this rank from this corps and was also the first woman to be appointed as the commanding officer of the 1 SLAWC in 1989 in the Major rank.
=== Notable fallen members ===


The regimental centre of the corps was established on 17 November 1997 at ]. Male Major General W.A.A. de Silva RSP USP was the first ] of the Regiment from 1997 to 1998 and female Lieutenant Colonel M.H.P.S. Perera, USP was the first Centre Commandant from 1998 to 2004. Major General H.I.G. Wijerathna, USP was the first female colonel commandant of this regiment who served from 2008 to 2010 and Brigadier D.T.N. Munasinghe was the second female to be appointed as the colonel commandant in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/news/newly-appointed-slawc-colonel-commandant-assumes-duties|title=Newly-Appointed SLAWC Colonel Commandant Assumes Duties|website=alt.army.lk/slawc}}</ref><ref name="sla-women">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/regiment_regular_19.php |title=Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2007-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128135530/http://www.army.lk/regiment_regular_19.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/slawc/|title=Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps|work=army.lk|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref>
* ] ]{{KIA}} <ref name='Daily News1'>{{cite news | first=Ramani | last=Kanagaraarachchi | title=Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice | date=2007-01-20 | publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon | url =http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp | work =Daily News | accessdate = 2007-05-25 }}</ref>
* Lt. General ]{{KIA}} <ref name='Daily News1'/>
* ] ] {{KIA}} <ref name='Daily News1'/>
* Maj. General Ananda Hamangoda {{KIA}} <ref>{{cite news | first=Brigadier Daya | last=Ratnayake | title=Noble in death as in life | date=2005-07-30 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd | url =http://lakdiva.org/suntimes/050703/plus/appreciation.html | work =The Sunday Times | accessdate = 2007-08-18 }}</ref>
* ] ] <ref>{{cite news | first=Senaka | last=De Silva | title=Senior Army officer shot dead | date=2005-06-01 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd | url =http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/06/01/front/1.asp | work =Daily Mirror | accessdate = 2007-06-03 | }}</ref>
* ] ]{{KIA}}
* ] ] {{KIA}}
* ] 2nd Class ]{{KIA}}
* ] ]{{KIA}}


The primary aim of raising Women's Corps was to provide telephone operators, computer operators, nurses and clerks, to release the male counterparts to the battle field. However, women soldiers were also employed on field duties later. Six more battalions were created in the 1990s and 2000s.
== Equipment ==
] armoured personnel carrier in Sri Lanka]]
After the 1971 uprising, the army expanded its range of weapons from the original stock of ]-era ] ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ], ], ] and 4.2-inch heavy ]. New sources of weaponry in the mid-to-late 1970s included the ], ], and ] - countries with which the leftist ] government had close ties to. China continued to be an important source of arms well into the 1990s.<ref name="PC"/>


Over 25 female soldiers had been killed in action with the first in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=War Heroines |url=https://alt.army.lk/slawc/war_heroines |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> In 2021, a special 'Women Corps Quick Reaction Rider Team' was formed to operate in an emergency situation in ]; female soldiers were in motorcycles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman soldiers now operate as special riders to monitor spread of COVID-19 in Jaffna |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Woman-soldiers-now-operate-as-special-riders-to-monitor-spread-of-COVID-19-in-Jaffna/108-212867 |access-date=28 May 2021 |publisher=Daily Mirror}}</ref>
To meet the threat posed by predominantly the LTTE, Army purchased modern military hardware including 5 Inch caliber ]s, ] Launchers, ]s, ]s, 60 mm and 81 mm ]s, 40 mm ]s and some ]s. Refurbished ]s were added to the 'A' vehicle fleet of the 1st Reece Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. These APCs enabled the Armoured Corps to have their own assault troops to provide close contact protection to their ] and ] which were vulnerable to ] weapons. The capability of the Sri Lanka Artillery was enhanced with the introduction of ]s.<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka |title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999'' |year=1999 |edition=1st Edition |year=1999 |month=October |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |language=English |isbn=995-8089-02-8 |pages=393 |chapter=Chapter 1 }}</ref>


Apart from the Women's Corps women are now recruited in the ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].
Though the weapons were obsolete at the time of purchase, the Government security forces found them to be successful in combat {{fact}}. Land mines proved to be the most lethal threat to the security forces, as many mines have been deployed against government forces by the LTTE in the Northern and Eastern Provinces {{fact}}. These mines are deployed with normalcy against government trucks and buses, with a high rate of casualty. These landmines weighed approximately 50 - 100kgs, against which no armoured vehicle that the SLA possessed was able to withstand the blast effect. Therefore the ]n made ] was introduced to service to reduce damage due to land mines {{fact}}. The Army's own Unicorn Class were copies of the Buffels from South Africa built through joint licensing. The UNICORN was assembled by the Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2"/>
]
In recent years, Sri Lanka has become increasingly reliant on China for weapons.<ref name='IANS1'>{{cite news | first=Rahul | last=Bedi | title=Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs | date=2007-06-02 | publisher=Urdustan.com Network | url =http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html | work =IANS | accessdate = 2007-06-02 }}</ref> This is due to most ] and the ] Governments passing regulations about the selling of weaponry to nations which have abhorrent human rights records.<ref name='slawc-rep'>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalactionpw.org/un/SALW_PoA_RC_%20REPORT.pdf |title=Small Arms and Light Weapons Conference Report |accessdate=2006-07-23 |format= |work=Judith McDaniel }}</ref> However in light of recent attacks by the LTTE, the ] has expressed its intent to maintain military training assistance and possibly increase it should the violence continue. {{fact}}


==Equipment==
China has no such regulations upon their arms producers, and some see the sales as an attempt to gain political influence with strategically-important Sri Lanka.{{fact}} Sri Lanka also continues to receive a variety of weapons from ], ], ] and other former suppliers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20031017naval_surveillance_millstone_LTTE.htm |title=Naval surveillance is the millstone around LTTE's neck |accessdate=2003-10-17 |format= |work=P.K. Balachanddran }}</ref><ref name='IANS1'/>
In the 1980s, the army expanded its range of weapons from the original stock of ]-era British ]s, ], ]s, ], ], ]s, ],<ref name="SLAC1">Michael K. Cecil – Sri Lanka's Military:
The Search For A Mission, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929175234/http://www.bdblodgett.com/srilanka.pdf|date=29 September 2007}}.</ref> ], ] and 4.2-inch heavy ] as well as post war ]s, ], ] and ]s. New sources of weaponry in the mid-to-late 1970s included the ], ], and ] – countries with which the leftist ] government had close ties.


To meet the threat posed by predominantly the LTTE, Army purchased modern military hardware including 50-calibre ]s, ] (RPG) launchers, ]s, ], 60&nbsp;mm and 81&nbsp;mm ]s, 40&nbsp;mm ]s and some ]s. Refurbished ]s were added to the 'A' vehicle fleet of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, ]. These APCs enabled the Armoured Corps to have their own assault troops to provide close contact protection to their ] and ] which were vulnerable to ] weapons. The capability of the ] was enhanced with the introduction of ]s.<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka |title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 Years On" – 1949–1999'' |edition=1st |date=October 1999 |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |isbn=978-955-8089-02-6
{{clear}}
|chapter=Chapter 1 |page=393 }}</ref> Chinese-made 122&nbsp;mm, 130&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm howitzers were introduced to the Sri Lankan Army in 1995 and 1998 whilst 122&nbsp;mm Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), were first used in 2000 by the Sri Lanka Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/org2.php|title=Sri Lanka Army|work=army.lk|access-date=25 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707163944/http://www.army.lk/org2.php|archive-date=7 July 2006}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
'''Infantry weapons'''


Though the weapons were obsolete at the time of purchase, security forces found them to be successful in combat. Land mines proved to be the most lethal threat to personnel, as a number of mines were deployed against unprotected trucks and buses by the LTTE in the northern and eastern Provinces. These land mines weighed approximately 50–100&nbsp;kg, against which no armoured vehicle that the SLA possessed was able to withstand the blast effect. Consequently, ] ]s – ]n armoured personnel carriers constructed on a ] chassis – were imported in quantity. By 1987 Sri Lanka's indigenous ] had been engineered from the Buffel, followed by the improved ] class.<ref name="JIG">{{cite web |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/04/25/fea22.html |title=SFrom Unicorn to Unibuffel |publisher=sundayobserver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930161026/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/04/25/fea22.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> Both the Unicorn and the Unibuffel are assembled by the ] (SLEME).<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2"/>
'''Handguns'''
* ] 9 mm
* ] 9 mm
* ]


In recent years, Sri Lanka has become increasingly reliant on China for weapons.<ref name="IANS1">{{cite news | first=Rahul | last=Bedi | title=Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs | date=2007-06-02 | publisher=Urdustan.com Network | url=http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html | work=IANS | access-date=2007-06-02 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604170848/http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html | archive-date=2007-06-04 }}</ref> This is due to most ] and the United States Governments passing regulations about the selling of weaponry to nations which are suffering or suffered from internal conflict.<ref name="slawc-rep">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalactionpw.org/un/SALW_PoA_RC_%20REPORT.pdf |title=Small Arms and Light Weapons Conference Report |access-date=2006-07-23 |work=Judith McDaniel |archive-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313092536/http://www.globalactionpw.org/un/SALW_PoA_RC_%20REPORT.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> However the United States has expressed its intent to maintain military training assistance. Recently the Sri Lankan Army started to produce locally weapons such as a new multiple rocket launcher, with 10 barrels and a firing range of 20&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SL made multi-barrel rocket launcher unveiled|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/SL-made-multi-barrel-rocket-launcher-unveiled/110-161967|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152259/https://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/SL-made-multi-barrel-rocket-launcher-unveiled/110-161967|url-status=live}}</ref> The SLEME is also producing vehicles for transport, the ] series trucks,<ref>{{Cite web|title='Made in Sri Lanka' UniCOLT Vehicles to be Manufactured at SLEME Workshop {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/news/made-sri-lanka-unicolt-vehicles-be-manufactured-sleme-workshop|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112201326/https://www.army.lk/news/made-sri-lanka-unicolt-vehicles-be-manufactured-sleme-workshop|url-status=live}}</ref> and landmine-resistant vehicles, the ]s and the ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-15|title=Sri Lanka Army's innovative new workshop|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/12/15/sri-lanka-armys-innovative-new-workshop/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127190431/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/12/15/sri-lanka-armys-innovative-new-workshop/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the Army shipped several modernized Unibuffels to the Sri Lankan forces who are serving in a peacekeeping mission in Mali.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Katugampala |first=Manohari |title=Military engineers achieve success with modified Unibuffels|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/31/features/227390/military-engineers-achieve-success-modified-unibuffels|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Daily News|language=en|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113103731/http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/31/features/227390/military-engineers-achieve-success-modified-unibuffels|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Assault Rifles'''
* ] ]<ref name="SAS1">{{cite book | last = Smith | first = Chris | authorlink = Chris Smith | title = In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka | publisher = Small Arms Survey | date = October 2003 | url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2003-op11-sri_lanka.pdf }}</ref>
* ] Assault rifles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type81rifle.asp |title=T 81 Assault Rifle |accessdate=2007-03-14 |format=HTML |work=SinoDefence }}</ref>
* ] Assault rifles<ref>{{cite book |last=International |first=Amnesty |authorlink= |coauthors=International Secretariat, AI Ireland, Omega Foundation |editor= |others= |title=Undermining Global Security: the European Union’s arms exports |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/spotlight/ammunition/ammun_pdf/2004_amnesty_international.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=14 |accessyear=2007 |accessmonth=03 |edition=1st Edition |publisher=Amnesty International |location= |language=English |isbn=0-86210-356-8 }}</ref>
* ] Assault Rifles<ref name="WPOI">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm |title=Profiling the Small Arms Industry |accessdate=2007-03-15 |coauthors=Frida Berrigan, Michelle Ciarrocca |date= |year=2000 |month=November |format=HTML |work=Arms Trade Resource Center |publisher=World Policy Institute }}</Ref>
* ] Assault rifles<ref name="WPOI"/>
* ] Assault rifles<ref name="SAS1"/>


Sri Lanka also continues to receive a variety of weapons from Britain, India, Japan, Pakistan, Israel and other former suppliers.<ref name="IANS1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20031017naval_surveillance_millstone_LTTE.htm |title=Naval surveillance is the millstone around LTTE's neck |access-date=2003-10-17 |work=P.K. Balachanddran |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031120105840/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20031017naval_surveillance_millstone_LTTE.htm |archive-date=2003-11-20 }}</ref>
'''Sub-Machine guns'''
* ] ]s<ref name="SAS1"/>
* ] Submachine Guns<ref name="SAS1"/>
* ]s<ref name="SAS1"/>


===Armour===
'''Sniping Rifles'''
]
* ] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpdsindia.org/globalhumansecurity/trans-national.htm |title=Trans-National Crime and Light Weapons Proliferation: Security Implications for the State |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2002 |month=August |format=HTML |work=Tara Kartha |publisher=IDSA }}</ref>
* ] Sniper Rifles


]
'''Machine guns'''
* ] (Chinese version of Russian ])<ref name="PC"/>
* ] Belt-fed ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/reg.burma/archives/199901/msg00057.html |title=If You're Involved in Resolving the |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=05 |year=1999 |month=January |format=HTML |publisher=ibiblio.org }}</ref>
* ] ]<ref name="SAS1"/>
* ] General purpose machine gun<ref name="SAS1"/>
* ]s (Chinese version of Russian ])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vodkakalashnikov.com/biography.htm |title=Biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=14 |year=2004 |month=January |format=HTML |publisher=VRQ International, Inc. }}</ref>


]
'''Grenade launchers'''
* ] Breech-loading ]<ref name="SAS1"/>
* ] Grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>


]
'''Rocket launchers'''
* ] Rocket launchers (] version of ])<ref name="PC"/>
{{col-3}}
'''Anti-tank missiles'''


]
* ] ]s<ref name="JIG"/>


] Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle (MRAPV)]]
'''Light and Towed mortars'''
* Type 86 (W86) 120 mm mortars
* Type 84 (W84) 82 mm mortars
* Type 89 60 mm mortars


{| class="wikitable"
'''Armoured vehicles'''
! Type
* ] and ] ]<ref name="JIG">{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/press/articles/pc060608_2.shtml |title=Sri Lanka Asks Pakistan For USD60 Million in Defence Assistance |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=08 |year=2006 |month=June |format=HTML |publisher=Jane's Information Group }}</ref>
! Origin
* ] Main battle tanks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-69.htm |title=Type 69 Main Battle Tank |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=31 |year=2005 |month=July |format=HTML |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org }}</ref>
! Quantity
* ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://army-guide.com/eng/product586.html |title=Saladin |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
! Notes
|-
! colspan="4" | ]s
|-
| ]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<br />{{CZS}}
| 62<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment"/>
|Czech variant based on T-55 of Soviet Union
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 0 Active
|Up to 25<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Arms transfer database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/CSVResult |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=armstransfers.sipri.org |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510044140/https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/CSVResult |url-status=live }}</ref> in reserve.
|-
! colspan="4" | ]s
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
| 49<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210085604/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/army-equipment.htm |date=10 February 2013 }}. globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2013-06-09.</ref>
|
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
| 13<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment"/>
|
|-
| ] (WZ-551A)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 80<ref name=":3" />
| Wheeled
|-
|] (YW-309)
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|0<ref name=":2" />
|Tracked, up to 20 stored <ref name=":3" />
|-
! colspan="4" |]
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|N/A
|
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A
|] Light armoured High-Mobility/Forward Command vehicle
|-
! colspan="4"| ]s
|-
| ] (YW-534)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 40<ref name=":3" />
| Tracked, including command post version
|-
|] (WZ-551B)
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|120<ref name=":3" />
|
|-
| ] (YW-531H)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 30<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
| Tracked, amphibious
|-
| ] (YW-531)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 10<ref name=":3" />
| Tracked
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr />{{flagcountry|Russia}}
| 25<ref name=":2" />
| Wheeled
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|South Africa|1928}}<br />{{flagcountry|West Germany}}
| 31<ref name=":2" />
| Mine-protected APC
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|South Africa|1928}}<br >{{flagcountry|West Germany}}<hr >{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| 60+
| Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| 105<ref name=":2" />
| Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A<ref>{{Cite web|title=New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|access-date=2021-01-06|website=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331053906/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|] ] Command vehicle
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A
|Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
|-
! colspan="4" | ]
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr/>{{flagcountry|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|1960}}
| 16<ref name=":2" />
| ]
|-
| ]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr/>{{flagcountry|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|1960}}
| 2<ref name=":2" />
| ]
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr />{{flagcountry|Russia}}
|N/A<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Armoured Corps |url=https://alt.army.lk/slac/afvs |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=alt.army.lk |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227001426/https://alt.army.lk/slac/afvs |url-status=live }}</ref>
|]
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|N/A<ref name="auto"/>
|]
|}


=== Multi Purpose Trucks ===
* ] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/Mainpages/dsp_ConflictWeapons.asp?ConflictID=174 |title=Sri Lanka (LTTE) |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=International Institute For Strategic Studies }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
* ] Infantry fighting vehicle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product119.html |title=BMP-2 |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
|+
* ] Infantry fighting vehicle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1023.html |title=BMP-1 |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
!Type
* TYPE 86 (WZ501) Infantry fighting vehicles
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| rowspan="8" |N/A
|Multi Purpose Truck
|-
|] Model 1210 SD
|{{flag|India}}
|Field Artillery Tractor
|-
|Tata Defence Troop Carrier LPT 709
|{{flag|India}}
|Troop carrier
|-
|]
|{{flag|India}}
|Troop carrier
|-
|]
|{{flag|China}}
|Troop carrier, Field Artillery Tractor
|-
|]
| {{flag|Czechoslovakia}} <br >/ {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|Troop Carrier, Heavy Equipment Transporter
|-
|]
|{{flag|China}}
|Heavy Equipment Transporter
|-
|]
|{{flag|India}}
|Used for UN missions.
|}


===Artillery===
* ] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product116.html |title=BTR-80 (GAZ 5903) |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
* ] Armoured personnel carrier <Ref>{{cite book |last=Armada |first=International |title=The Trend |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url=http://www.armada.ch/06-1/complete_06-1.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=15 |accessyear=2007 |accessmonth=03 |edition=Volume 30 |series=No.1 |year=2006 |month=February/March |publisher=Armada International |location=Zurich |language=English |isbn=0252-9793 |id= |pages=32 }}</Ref>
|+
* TYPE 89 (YW534) Armoured personnel carriers
!Type
* ] Soviet armored personnel carrier<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1120.html |title=BTR-152 |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
!Image
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
! colspan="5" |MRLS
|-
|]
|]
|{{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|22<ref name=":2" />
|20.7 km range
|-
|]
|
|]
|6<ref name=":2" />
|45 km range
|-
! colspan="5" |Towed artillery
|-
|]
|]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|46<ref name=":2" />
|17,4 km range
|-
|]
|]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|30<ref name=":2" />
|27 km range
|-
|]
|]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|20<ref name=":2" />
|19 km range
|-
! colspan="5" |Mortars
|-
|] 120mm
|]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|55<ref name=":2" />
|5,7 km range
|-
|82mm
|]
|unknown
|209<ref name=":2" />
|
|-
|81mm
|]
|unknown
|520<ref name=":2" />
|
|}
]


=== Special Vehicles ===
* HUSSAR Wheeled armoured personnel carrier<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product656.html |title=HUSSAR |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
* ] Mine-protected APC<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1080.html |title=Buffel |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
|+
* ] Improved version of the ], built by the Sri Lanka Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Regiment using ]n ] ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Anton |last=Nonis |title= The evolution of the indigenous armoured vehicle: From Unicorn to Unibuffel |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/04/25/fea22.html |publisher=The Sunday Observer |date=2004-04-25 |accessdate=2007-03-16 }}</ref>
!Type
* ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1048.html |title=Shorland S55 |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
!Origin
* ] Armoured cars<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product588.html |title=Saracen |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
!Quantity
* ] ]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product.php?prodID=968 |title=Ferret Mk 1/1 |accessdate=2007-03-15 |date=15 |year=2007 |month=March |format=HTML |publisher=Army Guide.com }}</ref>
!Notes
* ] - Armoured version of the ]<ref name="IPCS"/>
|-
|]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
| rowspan="8" |10<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://army.lk/news/special-communication-vehicles-under-chinese-grant-delivered-army | title=Sri Lanka Army Defender of the Nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225061918/https://www.army.lk/news/special-communication-vehicles-under-chinese-grant-delivered-army | archive-date=25 February 2024 }}</ref>
|Field Communication Vehicle
|-
|}


===Infantry weapons===
* ] ]<ref name="UN1">{{cite web |url=http://disarmament.un.org/library.nsf/c793d171848bac2b85256d7500700384/c7b9a51a4973f6e585256dc100585789/$FILE/sg58.203.pdf |title=United Nations Register of Conventional Arms |accessdate=2007-03-16 |date=21 |year=2003 |month=August |format=PDF |work=United Nations }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
* ] - ]<Ref></Ref>
|-
{{col-3}}
! ]s
'''Artillery'''
! Country of manufacture
*152 mm ]s
|-
*130 mm ]s
| ]
*122 mm ]s
| {{flag|Italy}}
*] field guns - (Ceremonial Gun Troop)
|-
*] mountain guns - (Ceremonial)
| ]
| {{flag|Austria}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|Austria}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic}}
|-
! colspan="2" | ]s, ]s and ]s
|-
| ] (ceremonial use only)<ref name="SAS1">{{cite book |last = Smith | first = Chris | title = In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka | publisher = Small Arms Survey |date=October 2003 |url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2003-op11-sri_lanka.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060812044543/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2003-op11-sri_lanka.pdf
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = August 12, 2006
}}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ]-2
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ] assault rifles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type81rifle.asp |title=T 81 Assault Rifle |access-date=2007-03-14 |work=SinoDefence |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070214094032/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type81rifle.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-14}}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ] (Retd)<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
| ] (Retd)
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| ] (Retd)
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| ]s
|-
| ] (MP5A3, MP5SD6, MP5KA5)
| {{flag|West Germany}} <hr > {{flag|Germany}}
|-
| ] submachine guns<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Israel}}
|-
| ]-9
| {{flag|Brazil}}
|-
! ]s
! Country of manufacture
|-
| ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=34 |title=Accuracy International L96A1 |access-date=2009-01-20 |date=January 16, 2009 |publisher=www.MilitaryFactory.com |archive-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916011010/https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=34 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flag|UK}}
|-
| ] sniper rifles
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| ]s
|-
| ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vodkakalashnikov.com/biography.htm |title=Biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov |access-date=2007-03-15 |date=January 14, 2004 |publisher=VRQ International, Inc. |archive-date=11 August 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811191244/http://www.vodkakalashnikov.com/biography.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| ]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| ] Belt-fed ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/reg.burma/archives/199901/msg00057.html |title=If You're Involved in Resolving the |access-date=2007-03-15 |date=January 5, 1999 |publisher=ibiblio.org |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102130951/http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/reg.burma/archives/199901/msg00057.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flag|West Germany}} <hr > {{flag|Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| ]s
|-
| ] grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|South Africa|1928}}
|-
| ] breech-loading ]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
| ] grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|US}}
|-
|] automatic grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
! colspan=2"|]s
|-
| ]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| ] man-portable ]
| {{USSR}} <hr > {{flag|Russia}}
|-
| ] rocket launchers<ref name="PC"/>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ] shoulder-launched rocket system
| {{flag|Israel}}
|-
! colspan=2"| ]s
|-
| ] ]
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| ]
| {{flag|Sweden}}
|}


== Welfare ==
'''Multiple rocket launchers'''


=== Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit ===
* ]<ref name="UN1"/>
{{Main|Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit}}
]
]
{{col-end}}
Inaugurated on 12 July 1984,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|title=About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit|website=alt.army.lk|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528233332/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/index.php|title=Welcome to Army Seva Vanitha Unit|website=alt.army.lk|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093708/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref> functions with the main objective of providing welfare facilities to the next of kin of war heroes who have sacrificed their lives, gone missing in action or injured whilst defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their motherland while also empowering the families of the serving Army personnel. Traditionally the organization functions under the leadership of the wife of the serving ], and the members are the spouses of Army Officers as well as Lady Officers. The organization extends to 22 Regimental branches<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.lk/|title=Sri Lanka Army|website=www.army.lk|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093637/https://www.army.lk/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> functioning under the patronage of the wives of the respective Regimental Commanders.


Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit conducts various welfare projects such as Viru Kekulu pre-schools, day care centres, welfare shops, bakeries and salons,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|access-date=2020-07-04|website=alt.army.lk|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528233332/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the committed contribution of the dedicated membership. Construction of houses, giving away of educational scholarships and assisting in times of natural disasters, are done at both organizational and Regimental levels. The volunteer service extended by the spouses of the Army Officers whilst multitasking at their roles as wives, mothers and professionals, is an immense strength to Sri Lanka Army.<ref name=":1" />
==Controversy==


==Gallery==
Disabled soldiers and family members of soldiers killed during active duty during civil war have complained of military authorities ignoring their plight . There have been complaints of families not being paid enough, "For over 23 years, families of a killed soldier is still paid mere Rs.150,000, (USD 1500)" while politicians are paid as much as Rs 5 million (USD 50,000). In addition those soldiers killed before completing 12 years of service are prevented from claiming any pension .
<gallery widths="180" heights="140" caption="Sri lanka Army">
File:SLA Baktar-Shikan.JPG|SLA ].
File:Sri Lanka Military 0230.jpg|] infantry fighting vehicle
File:Sri Lanka Military 0208.jpg|].
File:Sri Lanka Military 0203.jpg|SLA ].
File:SLA MIR weapons.JPG|SLA MIR weapons
File:Sri Lanka Military 0238.jpg|SLA Bomb Disposal Units on Victory Day Parade.
File:Sri Lanka Military 0222.jpg|] (Type 92) infantry fighting vehicles.
File:Sri Lanka Military 0185.jpg|Combat Rider Teams, ]
File:Sri Lanka Military 0249.jpg|]
File:Sri Lanka Military 0250.jpg|]
</gallery>


==See also==
Sri Lankan army is also accused of abandoning the bodies of hundreds of soldiers in the battlefields . Many of these soldiers are are noted as missing in action, which doesn't entitle the relative of the soldiers to any benefits. In addition, the Sri Lankan army has refused to accept the bodies of soldiers on numerous occasions forcing the enemy to bury it on their own.

In one instance in September 1998, the bodies of nearly 600 soldiers were doused in kerosene and burnt on the battlefield by the Sri Lankan army. The relatives of the soldiers had pleaded for news of their loved ones but to no avail . After a trip to the battlefield by the parents of the soldiers, a lawsuit was filed on their behalf requesting a mass funeral and DNA testing so Buddhist, Muslim and Christian families could collect remains and give their sons proper burials. Ministry of Defence had organized funeral for the remains of the soldiers after 8 years, but refused to carry out DNA tests of the remains .

== See also ==
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]


==References==
== Further reading ==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
* Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). ''"50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999'', Sri Lanka Army. ISBN 995-8089-02-8
{{Commons category|Sri Lanka Army}}

*
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Sri Lanka Army}}

*
* *
* *
*
*


{{Military of Sri Lanka}} {{Military of Sri Lanka}}
{{Sri Lankan security forces}}
{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}


{{authority control}}
]

]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]

]

Latest revision as of 12:41, 6 January 2025

Land force branch of the Sri Lankan armed forces

Sri Lanka Army
ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව (Sinhala)
இலங்கை இராணுவம் (Tamil)
Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army
Founded1881
CountrySri Lanka Sri Lanka
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size150,000 personnel
Part ofSri Lanka Armed Forces
HeadquartersArmy Headquarters, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte
Motto(s)Latin: Pro Patria
"For the Fatherland"
ColoursGold, blue and orange
   
AnniversariesArmy Day: 10 October
EngagementsSecond Boer War
World War I

1971 JVP Insurrection
1987–89 JVP Insurrection
Sri Lankan Civil War
DecorationsMilitary awards and decorations of Sri Lanka
Websitewww.army.lk
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefAnura Kumara Dissanayake (President of Sri Lanka)
Commander of the ArmyLieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo
Chief of Staff of the Army Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara
Deputy Chief of Staff of the ArmyMajor General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B. Wickramasinghe
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Flag
Presidential Colour
Military unit
Sri Lanka Army
Components
History
Equipment
Leadership and ranks

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 its 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.

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. 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.

Background

Pre Anuradhapura period to the Transitional period

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. 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.

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 (1153–1186) 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. 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.

Transitional period

A Portuguese illustration of Sinhalese warriors, produced c. 1540

Parts of Sri Lanka came under the control of three colonial European powers, namely the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Dutch in the 17th century and the British in the 18th century. Yet, until the entire island was ceded to the British in 1815, regional kingdoms maintained most of their independent defence forces and were able to successfully repulse repeated thrusts by the European armies. However the British, unlike their counterparts, were not primarily restricted to maritime power, and thus had the capability to bring the entire island under their control and to integrate locals into the British defence forces.

At the beginning of the 16th century, modern Europe first came in contact with Sri Lanka. In 1505 a Portuguese fleet, while operating in the Indian seas against Arab traders, was blown off course and landed at Galle, on the southern coast of the island. In 1517 the Portuguese re-appeared, and with the consent of the Sinhalese King established a trading post in Colombo. Having initiated contact with Sri Lanka as traders, the Portuguese soon made themselves political masters of the western seaboard. Numerous forts were soon established, and features of European civilisation was introduced.

The Portuguese are credited with the introduction of European-style fortresses to Sri Lanka during this era. Although some locals already possessed military training and fighting experience, there is no evidence that the Portuguese employed local inhabitants into their own forces. Thus the Portuguese were forced to restrict their presence in the island due to their small numbers and their efforts were more focused toward projecting maritime power.

In 1602 Dutch explorers first landed in Sri Lanka. By 1658 they had completely ousted the Portuguese from the coastal regions of the island. Much like the Portuguese, they did not employ locals in their military and preferred to live in isolation, pursuing their interests in trade and commerce. Like the Portuguese, they defended their forts with their own forces, but unlike the Portuguese, Dutch forces employed Swiss and Malay mercenaries. The Dutch Forts in Jaffna, Galle, Matara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee were sturdily built and are considered a tribute to their military engineering skills. Also, like the Portuguese, the Dutch focussed on maritime power and although they had the capability to develop and use local forces, they chose to isolate themselves from the local population.

Kandyan period

The British Empire then ousted the Dutch from the coastal areas of the country, and sought to conquer the independent Kandyan Kingdom. In the face of repeated British assaults, the Kandyans were forced into a degree of guerilla warfare and fared well against their superior British adversaries.

Initially the British stationed their forces, which included naval vessels, artillery troops and infantry, to defend the island nation from other foreign powers, using the natural harbor of Trincomalee as their headquarters in Sri Lanka. In 1796, the Swiss and Malay mercenaries who were previously in the service of the Dutch were transferred to the British East India Company. While the Swiss Regiment de Meuron left in 1806 and was eventually disbanded in Canada in 1822, the Malays, who initially formed a Malay Corps, were converted into the 1st Ceylon Regiment in 1802 and placed under a British commanding officer. In the same year, the British became the first foreign power to raise a Sinhalese unit, which was named the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, also known as the Sepoy Corps.

In 1803 the 3rd Ceylon Regiment was created with Moluccans and recruits from Penang. All these regiments fought alongside British troops in the Kandyan Wars which began in 1803. Throughout the following years, more Sinhalese and Malays were recruited to these regiments, and in 1814 the 4th Regiment was raised, which was composed entirely of African troops. It was later renamed as the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. Eventually, the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British in 1815, and with that they gained control over the whole island. Resistance to British occupation cropped up almost instantly. During the first half-century of occupation, the British faced a number of uprisings, and were forced to maintain a sizable army in order to guarantee their control over the island. After the Matale Rebellion led by Puran Appu in 1848, in which a number of Sinhalese recruits defected to the side of the rebels, the recruitment of Sinhalese to the British forces was temporarily halted.

History

Ceylon Volunteers

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

These volunteers saw active service when a contingent of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI) in 1900, and a contingent of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps (CPRC) in 1902, took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Their services were recognised by the presentation in 1902 of a colour to the CMI, and a presentation in 1904 of a banner to the CPRC.

Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910

Main article: Ceylon Defence Force
First Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka D. S. Senanayake visiting the 1st battalion of the CLI at the Echelon Square and watching volunteers being trained to handle light machine guns.

In 1910, with the enactment of the Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910, the Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) was formed bring under it all volunteer units for administrative, training and logistics purposes. It continued to grow throughout the early period of the 20th century.

During the First World War, many volunteers from the Defence Force travelled to Great Britain and joined the British Army, and many of them were killed in action. One of them mentioned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was Private Jacotine of the CLI, who was the last man left alive in his unit at the Battle of Lys, and who continued to fight for 20 minutes before he was killed.

In 1922, the CDF was honoured by the presentation of the King's and Regimental colours to the Ceylon Light Infantry (CLI).

In 1939, the CDF was mobilised and an enormous expansion took place which required the raising of new units such as the Ceylon Signals Corps, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (Ceylon) and also the Colombo Town Guard, which had been previously disbanded, but was later re-formed to meet military requirements. During the Second World War, Britain assumed direct control over the Armed Forces of Ceylon. At the end of World War II, CDF which had increased in size during the war began demobilisation.

Army Act No. 17 of 1949

Brigadier James Sinclair, Earl of Caithness inspecting a guard of honour wearing khaki drill.

In 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain, becoming a Dominion within the Commonwealth and a year earlier Ceylon entered into the bi-lateral Anglo-Ceylonese Defence Agreement of 1947. This was followed by the Army Act No. 17 of 1949 which was passed by Parliament on April 11, 1949, and formalised in Gazette Extraordinary No. 10028 of October 10, 1949 marked the creation of the Ceylon Army, consisting of a regular and a volunteer force, the later being the successor of the disbanded CDF. Therefore, October 10, 1949, is considered the day the Ceylon Army was raised, and as such October 10 is celebrated annually as Army Day. Brigadier James Sinclair, Earl of Caithness was appointed as Commandant of the Ceylon Army. The Defence Agreement of 1947 provided the assurance that British would come to the aid of Ceylon in the event it was attacked by a foreign power and provided British military advisers to build up the country's military. In November, a Ceylon Army Guard takes over duties at Echelon Barracks from the Guard of the British Army.

The Army Headquarters, Ceylon was established in Colombo, with a General Staff Branch, an Adjutant General Branch, a Quartermaster General Branch and a Pay and Records Branch. Soon after the Headquarters, Ceylon Volunteer Force was established. The initial requirement was to raise an artillery regiment, an engineer squadron, an infantry battalion, a medical unit, and a service corps company. For much of the 1950s the army was preoccupied with the task of building itself and training existing and new personnel. To this aim the British Army Training Team (BATT) advisory group carried out training for ex-members of the CDF within the Ceylon Army, field rank officers were sent to the British Army Staff College, Camberley and some attached to units of the British Army of the Rhine to gain field experience. Newly recruited officer cadets were sent for training at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, stating with 10 officer cadets in 1950, which continued until the 1968 and both officers and other ranks were sent to specialist training courses in Britain, India, Pakistan and Malaya. There were no formations and all units were structured to directly function under the Army Headquarters. However temporary field headquarters were to be formed at the time requirement arose.

Due to a lack of any major external threats, the growth of the army was slow, and the primary duties of the army quickly moved towards internal security by the mid-1950s, the same time as the first Ceylonese Army Commander Major General Anton Muttukumaru took command of the army. The first internal security operation of the Ceylon Army began in 1952, code named Operation Monty to counter the influx of illegal South Indian immigrants brought in by smugglers on the north-western coast, in support of Royal Ceylon Navy coastal patrols and police operations. This was expanded and renamed as Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration (TaFII) in 1963 and continued up to 1981 when it was disbanded. The Army was mobilised to help the police to restore peace under provincial emergency regulations during the 1953 hartal, the 1956 Gal Oya Valley riots and in 1958 it was deployed for the first time under emergency regulations throughout the island during the 1958 Riots.

During the 1950s and 1960s the army was called upon to carry to essential services when the workers went on strike which were organised by the left-wing parties and trade unions for various reasons, the most notable was the 1961 Colombo Port strike, during which ships threatened to bypass Colombo port and the country almost starved. To counter these common strikes several units were formed, who were employed in development work when there were no strikes. New regiments were formed, which included the Ceylon Armoured Corps, Ceylon Sinha Regiment and the Ceylon Pioneer Corps.

In 1962 several senior officers attempted a military coup, which was stopped hours before it was launched. Thereafter the government mistrusted the military and reduced the size and growth of the army, especially the volunteer force, disbanding several units and forming the Gemunu Watch.

Sri Lanka Army flags

In 1971, the Army found itself facing a full blown insurgency, when the JVP Insurrection broke out in April 1971. Having been caught by surprise, as a result of failure to comprehend the magnitude of the insurgency from intelligence reports. Although completely ill-prepared to deal with an insurgency, lacking weapons, ammunition, equipment and training; the army responded quickly and successfully defeated the insurgency by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna by mid 1971.

In May 1972, when Ceylon was proclaimed a republic and changed its name from the Dominion of Ceylon to the Republic of Sri Lanka, all Army units were renamed accordingly.

By the late 1970s the army was confronted with a new conflict, this time with Tamil militant groups in the north of the island. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) emerged as the prominent of these Tamil militant groups. The war escalated to the point where India intervened as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the Indian Peace Keeping Force united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. This led to a second insurgency by the JVP, forcing the army to deploy its forces in the south of the island and to fight on two fronts between 1987 and 1989. The 1980s saw a massive expiation of the army from 15,000 personal to over 30,000 and more. New regiments were raised, while others were expanded with new battalions. New weapons and equipment were introduced as the war shifted from counter-insurgency to conventional warfare tactics, with multi battalion, brigade and division scale operations. New regiments were formed which included the Commando Regiment, Special Forces Regiment, Mechanized Infantry Regiment, Gajaba Regiment, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Military Intelligence Corps, Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Rifle Corps and the Sri Lanka National Guard.

The war with the LTTE was halted several times for peace negotiations, the last of which following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the Army has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.

Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually led to the recapture of Jaffna and other rebel strongholds. On 19 May 2009 Sri Lankan army declare the victory of war as they found the dead body of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. This marked the end of the war, with the LTTE ceasing to exist in Sri Lanka as a result of prolonged military offensives conducted by Sri Lanka army. The Sri Lankan Armed Forces, including the army, have been accused of committing war crimes during the war, particularly during the final stages. A panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to advise him on the issue of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the civil war found "credible allegations" which, if proven, indicated that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Tamil Tigers.

Deployments

Military gathering on Galle Face Green in Colombo

As of present, the bulk of the Sri Lankan Army is deployed for domestic defensive and combat operations, while a sizable foreign deployment is maintained.

Domestic

Due to the Sri Lankan Civil War the army has been on a constant mobilized (including volunteers) state since the 1980s. The majority of the army has been deployed in the North and Eastern provinces of the country, which includes 14 Divisions coming under six operational headquarters and 2 independent Divisions and several independent Brigades. The army is also based in other parts of the island for internal security including a Division for the defence of the capital.

Foreign

The Sri Lanka Army currently participates in several major overseas deployments:

Peacekeeping

The Sri Lanka Army has taken part in two peacekeeping missions with United Nations over the course of its history. First assignment was in the Congo (ONUC) (1960–1963). Most recently, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002, Sri Lankan forces were invited by the United Nations to be part of the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti. In the process of the peacekeeping operations, two soldiers were killed in a raid in Petit-Goave. After over 6 months of service, the first contingent of the peacekeeping force returned to Sri Lanka on May 17, 2005. In December 2007, 7th rotation of the Sri Lankan contingent had been deployed with a force of 991 officers and other ranks, many of those deployed have been awarded the United Nations Medal for their services. In November 2007, 114 members of the 950 member Sri Lankan Army peacekeeping mission in Haiti was accused of sexual misconduct and abuse which resulted in 108 members, including three officers, being sent back after being implicated in alleged misconduct and sexual abuse where sex was exchanged for money and valuable items, with some acts considered rape as they involved those under 18. In January 2019, a Sri Lankan army officer and trooper on peace keeping duty in Mali were killed and three more wounded when their convoy came under an IED attack. The incident prompted the army to accelerate its Avalon program.

Sri Lanka Army's newest contingent of 243 professionally-trained Army personnel in the Combat Convoy Company (CCC), well-prepared to serve in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) left the island on 21 April 2021.

Organization structure

The professional head of the army is the Commander of the Army. He is assisted by the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and a Deputy Chief of Staff. The Commandant of the Volunteer Force is head of the Army Volunteer Force and is responsible for the administration and recruitment of all reserve units and personal. The Army Headquarters, housed in the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is the main administrative and the operational headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army.

Administrative

The Army Headquarters is divided into a number of branches, namely the General Staff (GS) branch responsible for coordination of operations and training and the Adjutant General's (AGs) branch responsible for personal administration, welfare, medical services, and rehabilitation. The Quarter Master General's (QMGs) branch is responsible for feeding, transport, movement, and construction and maintenance. The Master General of Ordnance's (MGOs) branch is responsible for procurement and maintenance of vehicles and special equipment. The Military Secretary's Branch is responsible for handling all matters pertaining to officers such as promotions, postings and discipline. Each branch is headed by an officer in the rank of Major General who is directly responsible to the Commander of the Army for the smooth functioning of the Branch. Under each Branch, there are several Directorates, each headed by a Brigadier.

The headquarters of field formations each have its own staff. For instance a divisional headquarters is divided into a GS branch as an AQ branch, each headed by a Colonel and is responsible for operations & training and administration & logistics respectively. Similarly, a Brigade Major and Major AQ is responsible for operations and administration in a brigade.

Like the Indian Army, the Sri Lanka Army has largely retained the British-style regimental system that it inherited upon independence. The individual regiments (such as the Sri Lanka Light Infantry and the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment) operate independently and recruit their own members. Officers tend to remain in a single battalion throughout their careers. The infantry battalion, the basic unit of organization in field operations, includes five companies of four platoons each. Typical platoon has three squads (sections) of ten personnel each. In addition to the basic infantry forces, a commando regiment was also established in 1986. Support for the infantry is provided by an armoured regiment, five reconnaissance regiments, three mechanized infantry regiments, five field artillery regiments, a rocket artillery regiment, three commando regiments, three special forces regiments, six field engineering regiments, five signals battalions, a medical corps, and a variety of logistics units.

Regiments and corps

Main article: List of current Sri Lanka Army regiments and corps

Name Headquarters/Regimental Centre Regular Units Volunteer Units Headquarters Units
Armoured Corps Rock House Army Camp 5 2 0
Artillery Panagoda Cantonment 9 2 0
Engineers Panagoda Cantonment 10 2 0
Signals Corps Panagoda Cantonment 10 1 1
Light Infantry Panagoda Cantonment 16 6 1
Sinha Regiment Ambepussa Camp 14 6 1
Gemunu Watch Kuruwita Army Camp 15 6 1
Gajaba Regiment Saliyapura Camp 14 6 1
Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Boyagane Camp 15 6 1
Mechanized Infantry Regiment Dambulla 4 1 0
Commando Regiment Ganemulla 4 0 1
Special Forces Regiment Naula 4 0 0
Military Intelligence Corps Polhengoda 4 2 0
Engineer Services Regiment Panagoda Cantonment 7 9 0
Service Corps Panagoda Cantonment 7 2 0
Medical Corps Boralesgamuwa 4 1 0
Ordnance Corps Dombagoda 6 1 0
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Slave Island 7 1 0
Corps of Military Police Polhengoda 7 0 0
General Service Corps Panagoda Cantonment 3 3 0
Women's Corps Borella 2 2 0
Rifle Corps Pallekele 0 2 0
Pioneer Corps Matugama 0 2 0
National Guard Kurunegala 0 19 1

Operational command

Organized and controlled by the Army General Staff at Army HQ, various formations are raised from time to time to suit various security requirements and operations in the country and overseas. The Army at present has deployed 12 Divisions, 7 task forces and several independent brigades. Except for the 11 Division based at the Panagoda Cantonment which is responsible for the maintenance of capability for the defence of the capital, all other divisions, task forces and brigades are deployed for operations in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, coming under five regional commands known as Security Forces Headquarters, which are the Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna (SFHQ-J), Wanni (SFHQ-W), East (SFHQ-E), Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT), West (SFHQ-W) and Central (SFHQ-C). One Security Forces Headquarters, the SFHQ-KLN was disbanded in 2021.

Each SFHQ and most divisions are commanded by a General Officer Commanding in the rank of Major General. A SFHQ has several divisions under its command and each division is further divided into brigades. Each brigade is commanded by an officer in the rank of Brigadier and has a number of Infantry battalions, support arms (Artillery, Engineers and Signals) and support services (Service Corps, Engineering Services, Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) under assigned to it. There are also several administrative brigades (Artillery Brigade, Armoured Brigade, etc.) and the Air Mobile Brigade.

In other parts of the country, there are Area and Sub-Area Headquarters. Armour, Artillery, Engineers and Signals Units are grouped under Brigade Headquarters of their own arm; Armoured Brigade, Artillery Brigade and so on.

Formations

Main article: List of current Sri Lanka Army formations
Army Headquarters Formation
  • Independent Brigade HQ
  • Commander Security Unit
SLAVF Headquarters
1 Corps, based in Kilinochchi
Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J)
Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W)
Security Forces Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E)
Security Forces Headquarters – Mullaitivu (SFHQ-MLT)
Security Forces Headquarters – West (SFHQ-W)
Security Forces Headquarters – Central (SFHQ-C)
Army Training Command
Logistic Command
Specialist Formations

Training

See also: Sri Lanka Armed Forces Training Institutions and List of military academies in Sri Lanka

At the formation of the Ceylon Army in 1949, the need to train a standing army was felt strongly since the Ceylon Defence Force had operated on a regimental training model to maintain the efficiency of its volunteers culminating with the annual two week training camp at the garrison town of Diyatalawa, in the Badulla District which became the traditional training grounds for the newly formed army. The Army Recruit Training Depot was established in Diyatalawa in 1950 and later renamed as the Army Training Centre. Officer cadets were sent to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, along with specialized training at trade schools of the British Army, while officers of field rank were sent to the Staff College, Camberley and to the Royal College of Defence Studies. With the economic limitations in the 1960s, focus was given for local training in order to save foreign exchange. The army initiated basic officer training at the Army Training Centre in 1968. With the rapid expansion of the army in the 1980s and 1990s saw the establishment of local specialist and trade schools, along with staff colleges and a defence university. At present the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) with its headquarters at Diyatalawa formulates all training doctrine of the army and all its training centres. ARTRAC directs all army training establishments, regimental training establishments and battalion training schools.

All pre-commissioning training for officers are carried out at the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) (formally the Army Training Centre) and at the Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS) situated in Diyatalawa. The officer cadets graduating from SLMA are commissioned as officers in the regular and volunteer forces, while VFTS conducts shorter commissioning courses for prospective officers for the volunteer force and the National Cadet Corps. The course for officer cadets runs for ninety weeks and includes training in tactics and administration which helps prepare the cadets to take up the positions of platoon and company commanders. The course consisted of military and academic subjects and also trained the cadets physically. The course helps to promote leadership qualities and the understanding of each one's role as an officer and a servant of the state. Due to the lack of officers within the lower levels, the training process was sped up in the 1980s by developing a short commission course. The cadets were given a training of fifty-six weeks and devoted themselves to continue their careers in the military with the mandatory ten years of service for regular army officers and five years of service for volunteer officers. Once completing their basic training at SLMA, junior officers would receive specialized training at training centres which would include young officers courses in their area of specialization followed by advanced training on weapon systems.

Selected field officers attended command and staff courses at the Army War College followed by the Command and Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which was established in 1997 as the Army Command and Staff College. Officers may attend specialist long courses such as the Logistics Staff Course that is conducted at the Army School of Logistics which was established in 2011. Senior field officers with the potential to advance to general officer rank are selected to attend the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) in Colombo which is the highest level of military training in Sri Lanka.

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in Ratmalana, fourteen kilometres south of Colombo, as only university specializing in defence studies in the island. Each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18–22) to participate in a three-year programme of academic work and as sent to their service academies for their final year of training. In addition KDU conducts postgraduate and masters programs in defence related subjects for officers who attend staff and defence courses at DSCSC and NDC.

Training for the new recruits are carried out by the Army Training School in Maduru Oya and at several locations by training battalions, followed by additional specialized training in arms or trade at training centres such as the Infantry Training Centre in Minneriya and the Combat Training School in Ampara.

At its formation the armed forces of Sri Lanka had limited indigenous training facilities, especially in technical and advanced roles, they have depended greatly on military training provided by foreign countries. The United Kingdom played a major role in the early years following independence and have continued to be an important source of military expertise to the Sri Lankan military. Other sources include India, Pakistan, the United States, Australia and Malaysia. Additionally, in an agreement reached in 1984, Israeli security personnel (reportedly from Shin Bet, the Israeli counterespionage and internal security organisation) trained army officers in counterinsurgency techniques. With the rapid expansion of the army, in recent years it has expanded its training facilities locally.

The Sri Lankan Army has also provided special training to the United States Army on their request as well as many other countries in military education regarding civilian rescue, jungle combat, and guerilla warfare etc.

Training establishments

Training Centres

  1. Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA)
  2. Army War College (AWC)
  3. Army School of Logistics (ASL)
  4. Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS)
  5. Army Training School (ATS)
  6. Infantry Training Centre (ITC)
  7. Combat Training School (CTS)
  8. Army Physical Education Centre (APEC)
  9. Marksman Sniper Training School (MSTS)
  10. Centre for Army Vocational Training (CAVT)
  11. Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOT-SL)


Regimental Training Centres

  1. Armoured Corps Training Centre
  2. School of Artillery
  3. Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering
  4. Sri Lanka Signal Corps Training School
  5. Mechanized Infantry Training Centre
  6. Commando Regiment Training School
  7. Commando Regimental Special Warfare Training School
  8. Special Forces Training School
  9. Special Forces Combat Diving Training School
  10. Special Forces Jungle Warfare Training School
  11. Military Intelligence Training School
  12. Airmobile Training School
  13. Engineer Services Trade School
  14. Army Service Corps Training School
  15. Sri Lanka Army Military School of Nursing
  16. Sri Lanka Army Ordnance School
  17. Sri Lanka Electrical And Mechanical Engineers School
  18. Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police School
  19. Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps Trade School

Personnel

As of 2024 the Sri Lanka Army had 150,000 personnel. In 2023 the army had 200,783 personnel and the number was reduced to 150,000 in 2024.

In late 1987, the army had a total estimated strength of up to 40,000 troops, about evenly divided between regular army personnel and reservists on active duty. The approximately 20,000 regular army troops represented a significant increase over the 1983 strength of only 12,000. Aggressive recruitment campaigns following the 1983 riots raised this number to 16,000 by early 1985. By 1990 the army had expanded to over 90,000 personnel and by 2007, it had expanded to over 120,000.

Since the Sri Lankan armed forces are all volunteer services, all personal in the Sri Lanka Army have volunteered as regular personnel or reservists. This should not be confused with the traditional term volunteers used for reservists or reservist units. Recruitment of the personal are carried island wide with a restrictions in the northern and eastern provinces during the civil war in those areas. The Rifle Corps is the only territorial unit that carries out recruitment from a specific area.

Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients

The Parama Weera Vibhushanaya is the highest award for valour awarded in the Sri Lankan armed forces. Army recipients include;

Notable fallen members

Over 23,790 Sri Lankan armed forces personnel were killed since the begin of the civil war in 1981 to its end in 2009, this includes 12 general officers killed in active duty or assassinated. 659 service personnel were killed due to the second JVP Insurrection from 1987 to 1990. 53 service personnel were killed and 323 were wounded in the first JVP Insurrection from 1971 to 1972. Notable fallen members include;

Directorate of Rehabilitation

The Directorate of Rehabilitation was established with the intention and focus towards the rehabilitation of Officers and Other Ranks Wounded in Action. However, with the increase of a number of casualties due to the operations, the Sri Lanka Army proceeded to utilize the services of battle casualties with the view of obtaining a productive service from these individuals. As a result, under mentioned institutes had been established.

  • Ranaviru Sevana
  • Ranaviru Apparels
  • Abhimansala Wellness Resort 1 (Anuradhapura)
  • Abhimansala Wellness Resort 2 (Kamburupitiya)
  • Abhimansala Wellness Resort 3 (Panagoda)
  • Ranaviru Resources Centre
  • Mihindu Seth Medura

Women in the Sri Lanka Army

Making a corps for women was dreamed by former Commander of the Army General Denis Perera who became commander in October 1977. Gen. Perera sought help from the British Army's Women's Royal Army Corps and in 1978 three females were sent to Britain for officer training. They returned to Sri Lanka in August 1979 after completion of eight months of training. The Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps was officially formed on September 14, 1979, with one battalion (the 1st regular battalion).

The first three female cadets to enroll the army were K.C. Jayaweera, M.P Wijegunawardena and V.P. Senevitathna (trained in Britain) and the first batch of female cadets to be trained in Sri Lanka was commissioned from the Sri Lanka Military Academy on 18 August 1984. On 16 October 1980, ten women were recruited for N.C.O. training and were given the basic Army training at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa. These N.C.O.s passed out in November 1980. The three officers and ten N.C.O.s participated at the Independence Day celebrations held at the Galle Face Green for the first time in 1981 and Women's Corps has been a part of the country's Independence celebrations ever since. Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) A.W. Thambiraja (male) was the first Commanding Officer of the 1st regular battalion (1 SLAWC) and Major K.C. Weerasekara was promoted to Lt. Col. in 1993; she was the first woman to be promoted to this rank from this corps and was also the first woman to be appointed as the commanding officer of the 1 SLAWC in 1989 in the Major rank.

The regimental centre of the corps was established on 17 November 1997 at Borella. Male Major General W.A.A. de Silva RSP USP was the first Colonel Commandant of the Regiment from 1997 to 1998 and female Lieutenant Colonel M.H.P.S. Perera, USP was the first Centre Commandant from 1998 to 2004. Major General H.I.G. Wijerathna, USP was the first female colonel commandant of this regiment who served from 2008 to 2010 and Brigadier D.T.N. Munasinghe was the second female to be appointed as the colonel commandant in 2016.

The primary aim of raising Women's Corps was to provide telephone operators, computer operators, nurses and clerks, to release the male counterparts to the battle field. However, women soldiers were also employed on field duties later. Six more battalions were created in the 1990s and 2000s.

Over 25 female soldiers had been killed in action with the first in 1997. In 2021, a special 'Women Corps Quick Reaction Rider Team' was formed to operate in an emergency situation in Jaffna; female soldiers were in motorcycles.

Apart from the Women's Corps women are now recruited in the Sri Lanka Signals Corps, Military Intelligence Corps, Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps, Corps of Engineer Services, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps and Sri Lanka Army Service Corps.

Equipment

In the 1980s, the army expanded its range of weapons from the original stock of World War II-era British Lee–Enfield rifles, Sten Submachine guns, Vickers machine guns, Bren machine guns, 6-inch coastal guns, Daimler Armoured Cars, Bren Gun Carriers, 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft guns and 4.2-inch heavy mortars as well as post war Alvis Saladins, Alvis Saracen, Ferrets and Shorland S55s. New sources of weaponry in the mid-to-late 1970s included the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and China – countries with which the leftist Bandaranaike government had close ties.

To meet the threat posed by predominantly the LTTE, Army purchased modern military hardware including 50-calibre heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, Night Vision Devices, 106 mm recoilless rifles, 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, 40 mm grenade launchers and some sniper rifles. Refurbished armoured personnel carriers were added to the 'A' vehicle fleet of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. These APCs enabled the Armoured Corps to have their own assault troops to provide close contact protection to their Alvis Saladin and Ferret Scout Cars which were vulnerable to anti-tank weapons. The capability of the Sri Lanka Artillery was enhanced with the introduction of Ordnance QF 25 pounders. Chinese-made 122 mm, 130 mm and 152 mm howitzers were introduced to the Sri Lankan Army in 1995 and 1998 whilst 122 mm Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), were first used in 2000 by the Sri Lanka Army.

Though the weapons were obsolete at the time of purchase, security forces found them to be successful in combat. Land mines proved to be the most lethal threat to personnel, as a number of mines were deployed against unprotected trucks and buses by the LTTE in the northern and eastern Provinces. These land mines weighed approximately 50–100 kg, against which no armoured vehicle that the SLA possessed was able to withstand the blast effect. Consequently, Armscor BuffelsSouth African armoured personnel carriers constructed on a Unimog chassis – were imported in quantity. By 1987 Sri Lanka's indigenous Unicorn APC had been engineered from the Buffel, followed by the improved Unibuffel class. Both the Unicorn and the Unibuffel are assembled by the Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (SLEME).

In recent years, Sri Lanka has become increasingly reliant on China for weapons. This is due to most European nations and the United States Governments passing regulations about the selling of weaponry to nations which are suffering or suffered from internal conflict. However the United States has expressed its intent to maintain military training assistance. Recently the Sri Lankan Army started to produce locally weapons such as a new multiple rocket launcher, with 10 barrels and a firing range of 20 km. The SLEME is also producing vehicles for transport, the UniCOLT series trucks, and landmine-resistant vehicles, the UniAIMOVs and the UniAVALONs. In 2020, the Army shipped several modernized Unibuffels to the Sri Lankan forces who are serving in a peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Sri Lanka also continues to receive a variety of weapons from Britain, India, Japan, Pakistan, Israel and other former suppliers.

Armour

Sri Lanka Army WZ551 APC
Unibuffel MK II Armoured Personnel Carrier – Sri Lanka Army
Type 89 (YW534) Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Sri Lanka Army BTR80A
Sri Lanka Army MT-55A Armoured Vehicle-launched Bridge pulled by Tatra T815 Truck
Unicob Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle (MRAPV)
Type Origin Quantity Notes
Main battle tanks
T-55AM2  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia
62 Czech variant based on T-55 of Soviet Union
Type 59  China 0 Active Up to 25 in reserve.
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-2  Soviet Union 49
BMP-1  Soviet Union 13
ZSL-92/Type 92 IFV (WZ-551A)  China 80 Wheeled
Type 85 (YW-309)  China 0 Tracked, up to 20 stored
Armoured cars
Land Rover Hotspur  United Kingdom N/A
UniAIMOV  Sri Lanka N/A 4x4 Light armoured High-Mobility/Forward Command vehicle
Armoured personnel carriers
Type 89 (YW-534)  China 40 Tracked, including command post version
ZSL-92A/Type-92 APC (WZ-551B)  China 120
Type 85 (YW-531H)  China 30 Tracked, amphibious
Type 63 (YW-531)  China 10 Tracked
BTR-80/80A  Soviet Union
 Russia
25 Wheeled
Buffel  South Africa
 West Germany
31 Mine-protected APC
Unibuffel  South Africa
 West Germany
 Sri Lanka
60+ Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
Unicorn  Sri Lanka 105 Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
Avalon  Sri Lanka N/A 6x6 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Command vehicle
Unicob  Sri Lanka N/A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
Engineering support vehicles
VT-55  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia
16 Armoured recovery vehicle
MT-55A  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia
2 Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
BREM-K  Soviet Union
 Russia
N/A Armoured recovery vehicle
Type 89 Recovery Vehicle  China N/A Armoured recovery vehicle

Multi Purpose Trucks

Type Origin Quantity Notes
UniCOLT  Sri Lanka N/A Multi Purpose Truck
Tata Model 1210 SD  India Field Artillery Tractor
Tata Defence Troop Carrier LPT 709  India Troop carrier
Ashok Leyland Stallion  India Troop carrier
NORTHBENZ Tiema XC2200  China Troop carrier, Field Artillery Tractor
Tatra 815  Czechoslovakia
/  Czech Republic
Troop Carrier, Heavy Equipment Transporter
Sinotruk HOWO 371  China Heavy Equipment Transporter
Tata LPTA 1628 6x6  India Used for UN missions.

Artillery

Type Image Origin Quantity Notes
MRLS
RM-70  Czech Republic 22 20.7 km range
KRL-122 Pakistan 6 45 km range
Towed artillery
D-20  Soviet Union 46 17,4 km range
Type-59-1  China 30 27 km range
Type-83  China 20 19 km range
Mortars
PM-43 120mm  Soviet Union 55 5,7 km range
82mm unknown 209
81mm unknown 520
RM-70 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher – Sri Lanka Army

Special Vehicles

Type Origin Quantity Notes
BJ2022  China 10 Field Communication Vehicle

Infantry weapons

Handguns Country of manufacture
M9  Italy
Glock 17  Austria
Glock 19  Austria
CZ 75  Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Assault rifles, Battle rifles and Carbines
Type 56 (ceremonial use only)  China
Type 56-2  China
Type 81 assault rifles  China
M16  US
M4 Carbine  US
SAR-21  Singapore
QBZ-95  China
SAR-80 (Retd)  Singapore
FN FNC (Retd)  Belgium
G3 (Retd)  West Germany
Sub-machine guns
MP5 (MP5A3, MP5SD6, MP5KA5)  West Germany
 Germany
Uzi submachine guns  Israel
Taurus SMT-9  Brazil
Sniper rifles Country of manufacture
Accuracy International L96A1  UK
Heckler & Koch PSG1 sniper rifles  West Germany
Machine guns
Type 80  China
FN Minimi  Belgium
FN MAG  Belgium
M240 machine gun  US
HK21 Belt-fed light machine gun  West Germany
 Germany
Grenade launchers
Milkor MGL grenade launcher  South Africa
HK 69 breech-loading grenade launcher  West Germany
M203 grenade launcher  US
STK 40 AGL automatic grenade launcher  Singapore
Rocket launchers
M72 LAW  US
RPO-A Shmel man-portable rocket launcher  Soviet Union
 Russia
Type 12 RPG rocket launchers  China
IMI Shipon shoulder-launched rocket system  Israel
Anti-tank weapons
HJ-8 Anti-tank guided missile  China
Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle  Sweden

Welfare

Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit

Main article: Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit
Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit President with the presidents of Regimental Branches

Inaugurated on 12 July 1984, Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit functions with the main objective of providing welfare facilities to the next of kin of war heroes who have sacrificed their lives, gone missing in action or injured whilst defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their motherland while also empowering the families of the serving Army personnel. Traditionally the organization functions under the leadership of the wife of the serving Commander of the Army, and the members are the spouses of Army Officers as well as Lady Officers. The organization extends to 22 Regimental branches functioning under the patronage of the wives of the respective Regimental Commanders.

Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit conducts various welfare projects such as Viru Kekulu pre-schools, day care centres, welfare shops, bakeries and salons, with the committed contribution of the dedicated membership. Construction of houses, giving away of educational scholarships and assisting in times of natural disasters, are done at both organizational and Regimental levels. The volunteer service extended by the spouses of the Army Officers whilst multitasking at their roles as wives, mothers and professionals, is an immense strength to Sri Lanka Army.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sri Lanka's plan to downsize military Tri-forces halt general recruitment". dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. "SL celebrates 70th Army Day". themorning.lk. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  3. ^ The Military Balance 2024, p. 313
  4. "Mahesh Senanayaka new Army Commander". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. "Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake appointed as new Army Commander". www.defence.lk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017.
  6. "Commander-in-Chief Completes One Year in Office". Media Centre for National Security. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  7. "Sri Lanka Army History, The Ancient Time". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2007.
  8. ^ Army, Sri Lanka (October 1999). "Chapter 1". Sri Lanka Army, "50 Years On" – 1949–1999 (1st ed.). Colombo: Sri Lanka Army. pp. 1–3. ISBN 978-955-8089-02-6.
  9. "The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505–1658)". WWW Virtual Library – Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2004.
  10. Doyle, Arthur Conan (2014). The Great War : the British campaign in France and Flanders. Vol. 1. London. ISBN 978-1-78394-624-2. OCLC 865473156. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. "Indias.com, Sri Lankan Army". Indias. Archived from the original on 22 March 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2006.
  12. "History of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2006.
  13. ^ "Establishment, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 26 March 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2006.
  14. ^ "Sergei de Silva-Ranasinghe looks back at the early days of the Sri Lanka Army". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  15. 1950 Fergusons Ceylon Directory. Colombo: Fergusons.
  16. ^ "An evolving army and its role through time, Sergei de Silva- Ranasinghe's article on the early days of the Sri Lanka Army". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  17. "Sri Lanka Army Marks 50 Years". Washingtonpost, AP News. 10 October 1999. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012.
  18. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat Archived 31 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Christian Science Monitor – May 17, 2009
  19. "Rajapaksa vows to shield his army from international probe". The Indian Express. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. "Sri Lankan army agrees to probe war crimes". The Daily Telegraph. Agence France-Presse. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  21. "Report of the UNSG's panel of experts on accountability in SL". The Island, Sri Lanka. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  22. "UN panel admits international failure in Vanni war, calls for investigations". TamilNet. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  23. "Summary of UN Panel report". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  24. "The Island". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  25. "Army's UN Peace-Keeping mission opens a new Hospital in South Sudan". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  26. "SL Army opens new hospital in South Sudan under UN Mission – South Sudan". ReliefWeb. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  27. "SL Army contingent invited for UN Peacekeeping in Mali | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  28. "2 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Haiti fighting". San Diego Union Tribune. 21 March 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  29. "Sri Lanka Light Infantry UN Peacekeeping Operations". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  30. "Sri Lankan troops in Haiti honoured". Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  31. Williams, Carol J. (15 December 2007). "U.N. confronts another sex scandal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  32. ^ "Sri Lanka to probe UN sex claims". BBC. 3 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  33. "Haiti: Over 100 Sri Lankan blue helmets repatriated on disciplinary grounds – UN". United Nations. 2 November 2007. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
  34. Reddy, B. Muralidhar (5 November 2007). "Part of Sri Lankan contingent in Haiti to be sent back". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  35. "UN confirms sex charges". Sundaytimes. 30 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  36. "SL army contingent attacked in Mali; Two killed, three injured". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  37. "New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  38. "Another Army contingent leaves for Mali on peacekeeping mission". 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  39. "Sri Lanka Army Establishment | Sri Lanka Army | Organization structure". www.army.lk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Military Balance, Sri Lanka". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  41. ^ "Training | Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  42. ^ Two Security Forces Headquarters established in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
  43. Security Forces on a realistic path to achieve the set target, Dailynews Archived 2008-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  44. "Columns – Situation Report". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  45. "Sri Lanka Army – Defenders of the Nation". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  46. "Sri Lanka Army - Defender of the Nation". www.army.lk. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  47. "Training | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  48. "Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Army to train US Army". 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  49. ^ "Training, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 10 April 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2006.
  50. "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2000". U.S. State Department. 23 February 2001. Archived from the original on 7 June 2001. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  51. "Victory's price: 6,200 Sri Lankan troops". News.smh.com.au. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  52. "The Sunday Times – Special Assignment". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  53. ^ Kanagaraarachchi, Ramani (20 January 2007). "Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice". Daily News. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  54. ^ "Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  55. Ratnayake, Brigadier Daya (30 July 2005). "Noble in death as in life". The Sunday Times. Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  56. De Silva, Senaka (1 June 2005). "Senior Army officer shot dead". Daily Mirror. Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
  57. "Directorate of Rehabilitation" (PDF). About, Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  58. ^ "History Of 1 SLAWC". alt.army.lk/slawc.
  59. "Newly-Appointed SLAWC Colonel Commandant Assumes Duties". alt.army.lk/slawc.
  60. "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 28 January 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2007.
  61. "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps". army.lk. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  62. "War Heroines". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  63. "Woman soldiers now operate as special riders to monitor spread of COVID-19 in Jaffna". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  64. Michael K. Cecil – Sri Lanka's Military: The Search For A Mission, Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  65. ^ Army, Sri Lanka (October 1999). "Chapter 1". Sri Lanka Army, "50 Years On" – 1949–1999 (1st ed.). Colombo: Sri Lanka Army. p. 393. ISBN 978-955-8089-02-6.
  66. "Sri Lanka Army". army.lk. Archived from the original on 7 July 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  67. "SFrom Unicorn to Unibuffel". sundayobserver. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  68. ^ Bedi, Rahul (2 June 2007). "Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs". IANS. Urdustan.com Network. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
  69. "Small Arms and Light Weapons Conference Report" (PDF). Judith McDaniel. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
  70. "SL made multi-barrel rocket launcher unveiled". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  71. "'Made in Sri Lanka' UniCOLT Vehicles to be Manufactured at SLEME Workshop | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  72. "Sri Lanka Army's innovative new workshop". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  73. Katugampala, Manohari. "Military engineers achieve success with modified Unibuffels". Daily News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  74. "Naval surveillance is the millstone around LTTE's neck". P.K. Balachanddran. Archived from the original on 20 November 2003. Retrieved 17 October 2003.
  75. ^ Sri Lanka Army Equipment Archived 10 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2013-06-09.
  76. ^ "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  77. "New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  78. ^ "Sri Lanka Armoured Corps". alt.army.lk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  79. "Sri Lanka Army Defender of the Nation". Archived from the original on 25 February 2024.
  80. ^ Smith, Chris (October 2003). In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka (PDF). Small Arms Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2006.
  81. "T 81 Assault Rifle". SinoDefence. Archived from the original on 14 February 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  82. "Accuracy International L96A1". www.MilitaryFactory.com. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  83. "Biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov". VRQ International, Inc. 14 January 2004. Archived from the original on 11 August 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2007.
  84. "If You're Involved in Resolving the". ibiblio.org. 5 January 1999. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2007.
  85. ^ "About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit". alt.army.lk. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  86. "Welcome to Army Seva Vanitha Unit". alt.army.lk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  87. "Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  88. ^ "About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit". alt.army.lk. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.

External links

Sri Lanka Armed Forces of Sri Lanka
 Sri Lanka Army   Sri Lanka Navy   Sri Lanka Air Force
Leadership
Organisation
Ministry and
Committees/Councils
Commands
Special forces
Army
Navy
Air Force
Paramilitary forces
Other components
Ranks and insignia
Sri Lankan national security organisations
National Security Council
Cabinet-level Ministry
Military branches
Law enforcement
Paramilitary
Intelligence
Research and development
Special forces units
Police
Special Task Force
Army
Special Forces Regiment
Commando Regiment
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
Air Force
Air Force Regiment Special Force
Special Airborne Force
Navy
Special Boat Squadron
Marine Corps
Protective security
Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009)
Origins
Combatants
 Sri Lanka
LTTE
Other militants (list)
 India
Sri Lanka Paramilitary groups
Phases
Major battles
Major events
Leaders
Sri Lanka
Military
Army
Navy
Air Force
Civilian
LTTE
Militant
Political
India
Military
Civilian
Aftermath
Related topics
Categories: