98-405: [REDACTED] Sri Lanka Army Operation Riviresa (Operation Sunrays), was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Jaffna . Starting on 17 October 1995, the primary objective of the operation was the capture of the city of Jaffna and rest of the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known as the Tamil Tigers). It
196-562: A medical corps , and a variety of logistics units. 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
294-968: 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. 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
392-668: 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
490-524: 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
588-997: A platoon commander, adjutant . He then served as company commander, staff officer II at the Army Training Center; staff officer II at Army Headquarters . During the 1971 Insurrection he was appointed military coordinating officer , Kilinochchi District . Promoted to lieutenant colonel , he was appointed commanding officer , 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. He served as commandant , Army Training School, Maduru Oya; Deputy Brigade Commander, 22 Brigade, Trincomalee; military coordinating officer, Matara; Brigade Commander , 12 Brigade; Military Coordinating Officer, Kandy; Brigade Commander, 7 Brigade, Elephant Pass; Commander, Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna ; Principal Staff Officer to Secretary Defence , Operational Headquarters, Ministry of Defence ; Commander Task Force-Vavuniya; Adjutant General , Army Headquarters; Operations Commander Colombo and Deputy Chief of Staff of
686-607: 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
784-740: 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
882-568: 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
980-529: A significant shift in military strategy following the government change in 1995. The administration of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga decided to engage in peace negotiations with the LTTE , which continued for several months. By late March 1995, it became evident that the peace negotiations were not progressing, and state intelligence grew skeptical of the LTTE's motives. The first act of hostilities by
1078-531: A sizable foreign deployment is maintained. 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
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#17327908334821176-589: 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. 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,
1274-455: 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 currently participates in several major overseas deployments: 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
1372-765: Is believed that Operation Riviresa was the largest and most successful military operation in Sri Lankan Armed Forces during the Third Eelam War . During the mid-1990s, the primary objective of the Sri Lankan military was to take control of the Jaffna Peninsula and establish a link between the Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts to maintain a land route from the south. This period saw rapid changes in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, including
1470-432: 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
1568-519: 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
1666-597: 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
1764-660: 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. The Army Headquarters is divided into a number of branches, namely the General Staff (GS) branch responsible for coordination of operations and training and
1862-633: 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,
1960-603: 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
2058-717: 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
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#17327908334822156-752: 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
2254-482: 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
2352-485: 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
2450-545: 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. 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
2548-797: 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
2646-551: 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
2744-773: 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
2842-699: 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
2940-552: 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
3038-570: 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
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3136-585: 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 Centres Gemunu Kulatunge Major General Gemunu Kulatunge , RSP , USP , ndc , psc (1941-2003) was a Sri Lankan army general, who was the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army . Educated at Royal College, Colombo , he graduated from
3234-702: The University of Ceylon in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree and had won university colours for Rugby. He thereafter joined the Ceylon Army . Having completed his basic officer training at the Army Training Center, Diyatalawa and was commissioned into the Ceylon Sinha Regiment as a second lieutenant on 1 September 1965. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, Ceylon Sinha Regiment from April 1966, in which he served as
3332-487: The 52nd Division, commanded by Brigadier (later Major General) P.A. Karunathilaka and deputy commander Brigadier (later Major General) Anton Wijendra, advanced astride the Jaffna - Point Pedro and Jaffna - Palaly Road axes respectively up to a line joining Kopay and Kondavil . This advance was met with stiff resistance from the LTTE. It took the two divisions almost a month to cover the 12-mile stretch. From this lateral line,
3430-618: The 53rd Division, consisting of Special Forces commanded by Brigadier Janaka Perera and deputy commander Colonel (later Major General) Gamini Hettiarachchi broke out and launched a narrow frontal attack that headed directly to the east of Jaffna town, capturing key crossroads along the way. The 53rd Division consisted of the 534 Independent Brigade (commanded by Colonel Percy Fernando ), 531 Air Mobile Brigade (commanded by Colonel Hiran Halangoda), 533 Armored Brigade (commanded by Colonel Gamini Balsooriya) and 532 Infantry Brigade (commanded by Colonel Lucky Rajasinghe). The LTTE had prepared for
3528-653: 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
3626-916: The Army . General Kulatunge is a graduate of the National Defence College, India . He was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal , the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal , the Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the North and East Operations Medal . He retired from the army in 1996. He was married to Shirani Kulathunge, they had three children. Their son Shewanth Kulatunge,
3724-807: 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. 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
3822-593: 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,
3920-415: 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
4018-521: 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
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4116-424: 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
4214-493: The LTTE on 1 May 1993. The Tiger high-command, knowing that plans were ongoing to capture the city of Jaffna, launched a pre-emptive strike on Sri Lanka Army and Navy positions in the Kilali area and tried to overrun their positions at Poonaryn on 11 November 1993. Though there were major losses at Poonaryn, the Sri Lankan military fought back to hold the isolated military camp with some determined tactical battles at all levels (commanded by Lt. Colonel Ranjith De Silva ). On
4312-538: The LTTE, which ended the peace talks, was an attack on the Sri Lankan naval fleet in Trincomalee Dockyard in April 1995. Following this, military installations in the north came under repeated attacks by the LTTE. The Sri Lankan Air Force faced constant threats, and several aircraft were downed by LTTE-deployed surface-to-air missiles, used for the first time in the conflict. As a result, the Air Force had to adopt evasive maneuvers when landing and taking off from Pallai Air Force Base, significantly hindering air movement and
4410-485: 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
4508-479: 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
4606-407: The South), made into the LTTE areas beyond the immediate vicinity of Jaffna City. Political leadership continued to drive the military leadership (against the advice of the military commanders), to stretch their forces beyond the practical limits of defense as they continued to believe that the LTTE would collapse after the fall of Jaffna City. The whole concept of the conduct of operations changed from
4704-413: The Sri Lanka Army were deployed at the outset of the attack, they were supported by the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Sri Lanka Navy. The operation, commanded by Major General Rohan Daluwatte as Overall Operations Commander (OOC), involved three divisions. The 51st Division, commanded by Brigadier (Later Major General) Neil Dias and deputy commander Brigadier (later Field Marshal) Sarath Fonseka and
4802-464: 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
4900-434: The Sri Lankan military, with the rest of the peninsula being held by the Tigers. Since the main staging area for the attack was in Palaly, a small scale operation, code-named Operation Leap Forward (planned and conducted by Major General Srilal Weerasooriya and Colonel Hiran Halangoda), was launched to expand the perimeter of the air base prior to Operation Riviresa expanding the holding area west of Karainagar . However, it
4998-497: 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
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#17327908334825096-722: The armed forces. 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
5194-409: 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
5292-426: The attack in advance by mining all roads into the peninsula and creating defenses in depth with additional cadres from the eastern province. 531 Brigade met with stiff resistance on 18 November, but managed to maneuver the troops east to avoid the heavily mined built-up areas. On 19 November 534 Brigade stepped into the attack and fought one of the hardest battles as they moved to cut off the main road linking Jaffna from
5390-399: 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,
5488-418: 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
5586-402: 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
5684-399: The darkness, escaping in boats across Kilali Lagoon and abandoning the city's defenses. On the morning of 2 December 1995, following an intense 50-day battle, troops of 53 Division entered Jaffna city almost un-opposed. Political leadership against the advice of military planners, expected the LTTE to collapse after the loss of Jaffna city. But the LTTE fell back to gain time to re-group and
5782-447: The deep northern seas and in protecting the KKS harbor, the only gateway to the north. Preparations for the offensive began with the resumption of hostilities after peace talks failed, following the LTTE attack on the Trincomalee naval base . President Kumaratunga's administration ordered active military operations against the LTTE. Planning and preparations for the operation were conducted by Major General (later General) Rohan Daluwatte ,
5880-421: The defenses held by the LTTE. As the brigade ran into a tight LTTE defense on Navalar Road. Colonel Lucky Rajasinghe ordered a 'turning movement' from the north, moving around the LTTE defenses and capturing the Nallur Area. Brigadier Janaka Perera, seizing the gap created by the infantry brigade, simultaneously launched the air-mobile 531 Brigade (commanded by Colonel Hiran Halangoda), to capture Jaffna Fort . At
5978-425: 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
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#17327908334826076-417: 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
6174-471: The entire northern theater. Despite not controlling the Jaffna Peninsula, the Sri Lankan government remained responsible for providing essentials and services to the civilian population there, primarily through the Government Agent, a post that functioned throughout the conflict. The Navy was tasked with providing safe passage for the Ceylon Shipping Corporation and private merchant vessels reaching KKS with essential goods. In this context, an offensive operation
6272-534: 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 . 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;
6370-469: 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
6468-410: 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
6566-432: 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. 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
6664-415: 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
6762-452: 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. As of present, the bulk of the Sri Lankan Army is deployed for domestic defensive and combat operations, while
6860-510: The necessity arose, and the soldiers returned to their pursuits, mainly for farming, after their spell of military duty. 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
6958-420: The overall Operations Commander, under the purview of Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Anuruddha Ratwatte , who was the Deputy Minister of Defense. Planning for the operation started in June 1993 under the Command of Major General Gamunu Kulatunge , who directed Col. Lucky Rajasinghe to plan the operation, assisted by Col. Mohan Rockwood as a response to the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa by
7056-655: 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
7154-579: 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
7252-401: The remaining cadres from Jaffna town. On 29 November 1995, 53 Division, commanded By Brigadier Janaka Perera launched an assault on the LTTE positions guarding Jaffna town. Brigadier Perera decided to commence the operation on a narrow front to minimize civilian casualties. He launched the 532 Infantry Brigade, (commanded by Colonel Lucky Rajasinghe), from the east to penetrate and probe
7350-467: The rest of the peninsula. Brigadier Janaka Perera ordered the 532 Infantry Brigade into action without giving the LTTE an opportunity to regroup and the said brigade, fighting through some of fierce battles and reached the waters of Colombuthurai on 20 November 1995, cutting off Valikamam from the Vadamarachchi and Tenamarachchi areas. However, an intense battle still had to be fought to evict
7448-499: The same night, 52 ‘ Black Tigers ’, elite commandos of the LTTE tried to infiltrate Palaly airbase by sea to destroy the aircraft, and were discovered and intercepted by the 1st Field Engineer Regiment troops (Commanded by Lt. Colonel Lucky Rajasinghe SLE and Major Lakshman David SLE), killing 13 black tigers. The surviving Black Tigers retreated to their base. This resulted in Palaly , Elephant Pass , Poonaryn and Kayts being held by
7546-507: The same time the independent 534 Brigade (commanded by Colonel Percy Fernando ), set-out along the east coast to capture the Jaffna Jetty . With three brigades attacking simultaneously from three different sides, the LTTE was unable to coordinate their defenses effectively. By the evening of 1 December, three brigades had breached the LTTE defenses, causing confusion. During the night of 1 December, LTTE cadres were taking advantage of
7644-672: 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
7742-609: 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
7840-429: 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
7938-480: The transport of critical cargo and personnel to the north. Simultaneously, the Sri Lankan Navy convoys in the northern seas and the only port in the northern theater, Kankesanthurai (KKS), were under constant attack by LTTE suicide cadres and boats. The Navy played a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted supplies and logistics, transporting troops, ammunition, military hardware, rations, and provisions to
8036-676: 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
8134-476: 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
8232-479: The vulnerability of the LTTE tactical operations, boosting their morale. Operation RIVIRESA-I was launched on 17 October 1995 with the aim of wresting control of the Valikamam area of the Jaffna peninsula. Major General (later General) Rohan Daluwatte and Brigadier (later Major General) Janaka Perera were two key military personnel who were instrumental in the leadership and success of the operation. 20,000 troops of
8330-679: The ‘execution of political (National) aims planned and conducted by military leadership' to political leaders stepping in to the shoes of military commanders in their determination to gain popularity (with the objective of destroying the LTTE), by sacrificing the long term political and military objective of 'winning the hearts and minds of the Tamil population'. Sri Lanka Army The Sri Lanka Army ( Sinhala : ශ්රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව , romanized: Śrī Laṃkā yuddha hamudāva ; Tamil : இலங்கை இராணுவம் , romanized: Ilankai iraṇuvam )
8428-418: Was back in little time more fierce than ever. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, five of the brigade commanders who mattered the most were lost within the next year - three were killed in battle and two left the Army, disgruntled by dissatisfied planning by the political and military leadership. SL Forces were unable to hold on to the subsequent gains (Navatkuli to Killinochchi from North and Vavuniya to Mankulum from
8526-475: 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
8624-590: 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
8722-469: Was consolidating in the Achchuweli area on the night of 31 October, the LTTE launched a major counter-attack on the division's positions. As the attack was anticipated by Brigadier Janaka Perera, it was repelled by troops of the 53 Division, which resulted in a large number of casualties for the LTTE. This was the key moment of the battle as this loss demoralized the LTTE cadres and SL Army troops realized
8820-433: 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
8918-545: 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
9016-563: 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
9114-753: 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
9212-634: 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. 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
9310-519: 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
9408-670: Was necessary to take control of the Jaffna Peninsula. The Army decided to launch Operation Riviresa under the Overall Operations Commander, General Rohan Daluwatte . However, the window of opportunity was closing due to the incoming monsoon season from October to December. The Sri Lankan Army’s high command was deeply concerned about the Navy's ability to secure the Main Supply Route (MSR), which
9506-500: Was thwarted by LTTEs counter-attack, code-named Operation Tiger Leap. Operation Thunder Strike, a preliminary action to further enlarge the required staging area to the east, was launched on 28 September 1995. 532 Brigade, under the command of Colonel Lucky Rajasinghe, was tasked with the capture of the Achchuweli area. They were supported by the rest of 53 Division's resources commanded by Brigadier Janaka Perera . As 53 Division
9604-524: Was vital for the operation's success. This responsibility fell to the Commander of the Northern Naval Area (Comnorth). Commander H.R. Amaraweera , the Commander of the Northern Naval Area at the time, assured the Army of the Navy's capability to secure the MSR. On the eve of Operation Riviresa, the Navy managed to maintain the Main Supply Route, despite significant sacrifices by naval personnel in
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