Major General Vanigamuni Indrajith Vijeyakumar Mendis Wimalaratne, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, psc, GR was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. One of the most distinguished field commanders in Sri Lanka, Wimalaratne raised the Gajaba Regiment, he commanded the 1st Brigade during the Vadamarachchi Operation, he commanded the Amphibious Task Force Commander during Operation Balavegaya and was the Commander Security Forces – Jaffna at the time of his death in a land mine explosion at Point Arali in the Kayts Island while making preparations to re-capture Jaffna.
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972. In 2010, the Army had approximately 200,000 regular personnel, between 20,000 and 40,000 reserve (volunteer) personnel and 18,000 National Guardsmen and comprises 13 divisions, one air-mobile brigade, one commando brigade, one special forces brigade, one independent armored brigade, three mechanized infantry brigades and over 40 infantry brigades. From the 1980s to 2009, the army was engaged in the Sri Lankan Civil War.
The Commando Regiment is the commando formation of the Sri Lanka Army. The unit specializes in various roles including hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency, and personnel recovery. It was formed in 1980 and is based in Ganemulla, a suburb of Colombo.
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army; it is the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarters battalion at the Ambepussa Camp.
The Gajaba Regiment (GR) is an elite infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed on 14 October 1983 at the Saliyapura Camp in Anuradhapura, it is named after the famous Sinhalese warrior King Gajabahu the First. It consists of 14 regular battalions and 6 volunteer battalions. It is the parent regiment of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the former President of Sri Lanka.
The Gemunu Watch (GW) is a infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, formed with troops from the Ceylon Light Infantry and the Ceylon Sinha Regiment in 1962. It has been deployed in many major operations against the LTTE. It is made up of 14 regular units and 9 volunteer units. Headquartered at Kuruwita Army Camp, Ratnapura. It is named after one of the most famous Lankan Kings, King Dutugemunu.
The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) is the active-duty volunteer reserve force of the Sri Lanka Army. The SLAVF is separate from the Regular Force which consists of personal who are professional soldiers and its Regular Reserve, which comprises personal who have a mobilization obligation following their service in the regular army. The SLAVF consists of the volunteer force and the volunteer reserve; administration and recruitment of reserve personal is carried out by the Volunteer Force Headquarters in Shalawa, Kosgama which is headed by the Commandant of the Volunteer Force. It has a current strength of about 55,000 personnel. The SLAVF was known as the Ceylon Volunteer Force from 1949 to 1972 and the Sri Lanka Volunteer Force from 1972 to 1985.
The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed on 22 March 1988, it is named after Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa. The regiment consists of 17 regular battalions, 9 volunteer battalions and a headquarters battalion. Since 1993, its Regimental Centre is located at the Boyagane Camp, Kurunegala.
The Second Battle of Elephant Pass, was a battle fought in April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base in Elephant Pass, Jaffna.
The 59 Division is an division of the Sri Lanka Army formed in 2007. A principal offensive division it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Mullaitivu region.
The Air Mobile Brigade is a formation of the Sri Lanka Army which functions as a rapid deployment force using air mobility provided by the mostly Mil Mi-17s of the No. 6 Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The brigade was established in 1994 under the command of Brigadier H. N. Halangoda. Currently it is attached to the 53 Division.
The 21 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 4 April 1988, the division is currently based in Anuradhapura in the North Central Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and has three brigades and seven battalions. Brigadier H. R. K. P. Peiris has been commander of the division since 11 January 2013. The division is responsible for 7,100 square kilometres (2,741 sq mi) of territory.
The 56 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 17 October 1997, the division is currently based in Kokeliya in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and has two brigades and six battalions. Brigadier D. A. R. Ranawaka has been commander of the division since 6 August 2012. The division is responsible for 830 square kilometres (320 sq mi) of territory.
The 61 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 5 May 2008, the division is currently based in Boossa in the Southern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – West and has three brigades and six battalions. Major General D G Hewage Rsp has been commander of the division since January 2021. The division is responsible for 1,448 square kilometres (559 sq mi) of territory.
The 62 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 10 October 2010, the division is currently based in Galkulama in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and has three brigades and six battalions. Major General D H M A Wijesighe USP NDC psc has been commander of the division since 18 October 2016. The division is responsible for 1,620 square kilometres (625 sq mi) of territory.
The 65 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 15 Dec 2008, the division was based in Alankulam near Thunukkai in the Northern Province. Today the division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and has three brigades and eight battalions.
The 66 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 1 January 2009, the division is based in Pooneryn in the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The division was a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Kilinochchi but now the division is part of Security Forces Headquarters – Mullaitivu and has three brigades and seven battalions.
General Gerard Hector "Gerry" de Silva, RWP, VSV, USP was a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Army. He is the 5th Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University since 20 January 2020. He was the 13th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Colonel Candauda Arachchige Dharmapala, OBE, ED was Sri Lankan politician. He was a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industries, Housing and Social Services and Member of Parliament for Hakmana. He also served as the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and as Security Adviser to President J. R. Jayewardene.
Brigadier Rohitha Neil Akmeemana RSP, USP was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Brigade Commander, 54-2 Brigade which was attached to the 54 Division during the Second Battle of Elephant Pass in April 2000.
