The Sri Lankan Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is the nation's army. 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 20,000–40,000 reserve personnel and 18,000 National Guardsmen and comprises 13 operational 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 Parama Weera Vibhushanaya is the highest decoration awarded by the Sri Lankan military, equivalent to the British Victoria Cross and the United States Medal of Honor. The medal is awarded to all ranks of the tri services, to both regular- and volunteer forces, in recognition of:
...individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of a non-military nature of the most exceptional order performed voluntarily with no regard to his own life and security with the objective of saving or safeguarding the life or lives of a person or personnel imperiled by death or for a meritorious act or a series of acts of a humane nature of an exceptional order displayed in saving life from drowning, fire and rescue operations in mines, floods and similar calamities under circumstances of grave bodily injury or great danger to the life of the rescuer...
For the purposes of parading, the regular army & the volunteer force of the Sri Lanka Army is listed according to an order of precedence.
The Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) is the oldest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of ten regular battalions and five volunteer battalions, and is headquartered at the Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda. Over the years it has become the most distinguished and dependable regiment in the army.
The Gajaba Regiment (GR) is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura. It is named after a Sri Lankan famous warrior King Gajabahu the First.
The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) is the principal and volunteer reserve force component of the Sri Lanka Army. It is a collective name for the reserve units and the Sri Lanka National Guard. The SLAVF is made up of part-time officers and soldiers. They are paid at a similar rate, while engaged on military activities, as their regular equivalents. This is in contrast to the Regular Army Reserve, which comprises people who have a mobilization obligation following their service in the regular army. Administration and recruitment of reserve personal is carried out by the Volunteer Force Headquarters in Battaramulla. The commandant is Major General Piyal de Zoysa Wickramaratne.
The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed on 22 March 1990, 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 Rajarata Rifles was a former rifle regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Raised along with Ruhunu Regiment, it was one of only three geographically based regiments in the Sri Lanka army. The cap badge of the Raja Rata Rifles show the figure of a Bherunda Pakshiya.
Vijayabahu I was a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Born to a royal bloodline, he grew up at a time when, part of the country was occupied by invaders from the Chola Kingdom of Tamilakam. He assumed rulership of the Ruhuna principality in the southern parts of the country in 1055. Following a seventeen-year-long campaign, he successfully drove the Chola out of the island in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century. During his reign, he re-established Buddhism in Sri Lanka and repaired much of the damage caused to infrastructure during the wars.
Colonel A. F. Lafir, PWV, RWP, RSP, SF was a Sri Lankan Army officer and posthumous recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV). He was awarded the PWV after being killed in action during the Battle of Mullaitivu for his actions as commanding officer of the 1st Special Forces Regiment during the Sri Lankan civil war. Colonel Lafir played a major role in the formation and development of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment from the original Combat Tracker Team.
The Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR) is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of four regular battalions and a volunteer battalion. Establish in 2007 by Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka its battalions are equipped with Type 63 and WZ551 armoured personnel carriers make up the Mechanized Infantry Brigade. It is the youngest regiment of the Army.
The Air Mobile Brigade is a formation of the Sri Lanka Army. It is a rapid deployment force, creating a highly mobile brigade of parachute units and airmobile units which employ helicopters. Air mobility is provided by the Mil Mi-17s of the No. 6 Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
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 54 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 10 September 2010, the division is currently based in Thallady in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and has three brigades and six battalions. Major General G.J.A.W Galagamage has been commander of the division since 28 August 2017. The division is responsible for 1,417 square kilometres (547 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 65 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 15 Dec 2008, the division is currently based in Alankulam near Thunukkai in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Kilinochchi and has three brigades and eight battalions. Brigadier K.A.W Kumarapperuma USP is the current commander of the division.
The 66 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 1 January 2009, the division is currently based in Pooneryn in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Kilinochchi and has three brigades and seven battalions. Brigadier A. M. R. Dharmasiri is the current commander of the division.
The 24 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 11 November 2009 as Task Force 3, the division is currently based in Malwatte in the Eastern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – East and has two brigades.
Major General Jagath Dias, WWV, RWP, RSP, USP is a Sri Lankan general, who served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He was the General Officer Commanding, 57 Division and 56 Division. He was the Sri Lankan Deputy Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and the Vatican.
