Sri Lanka National Guard
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| Sri Lanka National Guard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 November 1989 - Present |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Branch |  Sri Lanka Army |
| Type | National Guard |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 20 volunteer battalions |
| Part of | Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force |
| Regimental Centre | Kurunegala |
| Motto(s) | ස්වාර්ථයට පෙර දේශය (Sinhala: Country before Self) |
| Colors | |
| Anniversaries | 1 November |
| Engagements | Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Centre Commandant | Brigadier K M Thilakarathna |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Major General P J Gamge |
| Insignia | |
| Unit flag |  |
The Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) is the largest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is a volunteer regiment[1] currently made up of 20 battalions coming under the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
History[2][]
On 1 November 1989, all the volunteer personal attached to VIP guard duty owing to the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection were combined to form a new battalion attached to the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer force at Male Street, Colombo with Major S. Weragama of the Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps serving as its first commanding officer.
The number of battalions were gradually increased to 16 and named 'The Sri Lanka National Guard'. They were under the command of then Lt. Col. D. W. Hapuarachchi (who was a Major General as well[3]) SLSR as Commandant SLNG thus becoming the largest Regiment in the Sri Lanka Army at the time. Forming this large military outfit provided security and protected the captured areas from falling back to the hands of the enemy. The purpose of forming gave reasoning for naming it as the Sri Lanka National Guard.
On 12 November 1991, the senior officer then Colonel SBG De Silva KSV (now Brigadier) SLLI assumed duties as the first Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka National Guard. By this time the numbers of battalions were further increasing. The temporary regimental headquarters of the Sri Lanka National Guard moved to the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force in Battaramulla on 14 December 1991.
During this time the Sri Lanka National Guard Regimental Centre, which had been placed in the building of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Headquarters under the guidance the GOC of the 3DIV, was moved to the "Punani" Army Camp on 5 May 1993, Colonel SD Lankadewa KSV was appointed as the new Colonel of the Regiment.
Many difficulties had to be incurred due to the inability of doing any essential construction of the Regimental Headquarters and its maintenance to a proper plan as it had to be shifted to different places time to time. The referee to overcome these difficulties the regimental headquarters of Sri Lanka National Guard was in need to be established in its own premises. As a result, the Regimental Headquarters was able to acquire a two-acre land at in Kurunegala. Accordingly, inspirit of a lot of hindrance and difficulties, on 4 March 1994, the Regimental Headquarters was shifted to the place where it is beautifully located today.
The staff assumed duties here at the begging had to carry out their duties under low facilities. At that time, there was only one permanent building as well as a temporary building in this land. On 29 December 1994, Brigadier SV Panabokke KSV was appointed as the 3rd Colonel of the Regiment. He commanded the Regiment until it was assigned over to the Senior Officer Brigadier MJ Alwis KSV on 16 August 1996. New Battalions (From 17th Battalions to the 22nd Battalions) were then formed and attached to the Regiment expanding it further.
It was Brigadier MJ Alwis who laid the foundation of stability for the Regimental Headquarters amidst great difficulties. At its first stage, the foundation stone for the office building was laid and commenced its construction on 31 July 1997. The Volunteer Force Deputy Commandant Major General SV Panabokke KSV at the request of the Colonel of the Regiment.
During this period, construction of another building adjoining this office building was started with a view to using it for the staff officers and for the office of the Colonel of the Regiment. The construction of that building was expedited with the labor contribution of the soldiers of the Regiment and after its construction was completed, it was ceremoniously opened on 20 February 1999 by the Commander of the Army, Lt. General CS Weerasooriya RWP RSP VSV USP ndc with the arrival of this new building the Regimental Headquarters gradually became a well-organized institute. Furthermore, the Colonel of the Regiment laid the foundation stone for another two storied building with a view to use it as the mess or the barrack of other ranks. At the time, the construction of its ground floor was reaching to its completion, on 4 May 1999 the Colonel of the Regiment had a transfer and bade farewell to the Regiment.
On 14 May 1999, the Senior Officer Brigadier AMB Amunugama KSV assumed duties on the post of Colonel of The Regiment which had been vacant at that time. He worked hard for the betterment of the Regiment and, after the completion of the construction of the building which was still under construction at the time he assumed duties of the post was ceremonially opened on 1 November 2000 by him.
As the Colonel of the Regiment, he took all possible steps to revitalize this Regiment and to promote it by initiating competitions among Regimental Battalions and each unit in order to select the most active Battalion and all so, through these Sports competitions, valuable opportunities were given to the army persons to go ahead with their talents in the army. Among those competitions, there were Inter Units Athletics, Inter Units Rifle Competition, and Inter Units Drill Championship.
In this way, having done a yeoman service to promote this Regiment to a higher standard in the Army, he left this Regiment on 16 June 2004 getting an official promotion, Handing over the regiment to Brigadier VKB Weerakoon KSV.
One of the most valuable achievements gained by the members of this regiment during the period of this Colonel of the Regiment who work hard to make the Regiment perfect and developed was the war heroes' memorial which was erected under one of his concepts and guidance. It was during this period of time that the Regimental Establishment was approved by the Army Headquarters. By this period, the 23rd SLNG was started as a battalion to strengthen the security in Colombo with further expansion of the regiment. At a time when the regiment was making progress with the approval of the army headquarters, the re-designated 07th and 08th unites of SLNG.
This Regimental Headquarters, which is situated on a beautiful hill top in Kurunegala, did not have a war heroes' memorial and according to the concept of the then Colonel of the Regiment and the present Deputy Commandant of the SLAVF Senior Officer Major General AC Obeysekara a war heroes' memorial was erected and declared open with the regiment. The Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General ULB Fernando RSP ndu psc graced this dignified occasion as the chief guest. The war heroes' memorial was declared open on 1 November 2007 and paid tribute to the fallen war heroes. On 12 July 2007, the duties of the post of Colonel of the Regiment were assigned to senior officer Brigadier AC Obeysekara who rendered a great service to the 08th the Colonel of the Regiment.
Senior Officer Brig LC Perera assumed duties as the 09th Colonel of the Regiment the Sri Lanka National Guard. The karate team of the Sri Lanka National Guard in the year 2008, won the trophy for the 80th time, defeating all the regiment senior officer Brigadier LC Perera who carried out his duties as the Colonel of the Regiment rendered invaluable service to the Regiment, bade Farewell on 12 February 2009.
Senior Officer Brig WDLP Wickramasinghe RSP assumed duties as the 10th Colonel of the Regiment the Sri Lanka National Guard. By this time, the Regiment comprised 32 Battalions. The Karate team of the Regiment was able to win the trophy of inter regimental karate for the 9th time and in 2009 won the trophy of the tournament surpassing all the regiments of the Sri Lanka Army Inter Regimental Weight Lifting Tournament. The number of battalions in this regiment (with Battalions of the Regimental Headquarters and 1st RFT Battalion) was increased up to 39 during the period the final humanitarian operations were going on, in 2009.
The 4th phase of the Raffle Draw was held on 30 November 2009, in order to raise funds for the building fund of the Sri Lanka National Guard. During this year, the Regimental Council for the regiment was set up in the regiment for the first time.
The Sri Lanka National Guard was able to secure the Sri Lanka Army Inter Regimental Karate Trophy 2010 for the 10th time, further enhancing their self-esteem. Furthermore, the apprentice Karate trophy was won by the sportsmen of the Sri Lanka National Guard for the first time. The Annual Sports meet was held after 04 years at Maligapitiya gourd Kurunegala in June 2010
The general assembly of Ex-Servicemen Association of the Sri Lanka National Guard was held on 9 June 2010 at the Auditorium of the Regiment. For the consecutive second time, the Sri Lanka National Guard was able to win the Trophy of Army Inter Regimental Drill Competition in 2010 conducted annually by the Sri Lanka Army Headquarters. Further, it is a special feature that a few essential buildings and other constructions such as two-storey office building, the Sergeants Mess, Ammunition dump, New Water Tank etc., were set up and competed under the guidance of the Colonel of the Regiment. Further, the renovation of the conference hall of the Regiment was completed and the Regimental Song, which was a long felt need was composed during this period
Insignia[]
Regimental flag[]
As there is a flag and an emblem for every Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka National Guard too has a flag and an emblem. Every person from the Commanding Officer to the junior most other rankers should consider the Regimental flag and the emblem as noble and should honor and salute them while the Regimental flag and the emblem comprise the code led by the Regimental motto
Colors of the flag Naval blue color - Loyalty White color - Peace Red color - Combative Spirit Width of one color is 16 inches. Size of the lag - 6 feet in length4 feet in width Motto of the Regiment "THE COUNTRY BEFORE SELF " Designed by – Lieutenant colonel DSC Ganegoda KSV SLASC(Retd)
Regimental flag and the emblem shall be a noble object which should be honored and preserved so as to reflect the dignity of the Regiment.
Regimental emblem[]
In the middle of the vertical emblem is a lion looking left and bearing a sword, with a convex shield in the background. On the either side of the shield there are two golden ears of paddy. On the lower part of the shield, the name and the motto of the regiment is engraved. On either side of the shield is a sword; the swords intersect at the top. Each two sword is held by a lion paw in the lower part of the emblem.
Lion - Reflecting the nation
Shield - Protecting the nation from enemies
Two gold colored ears of paddy- Prosperity of the nation and the Regiment
Two swords which crossed each other at the top - Providing perfect protection to the nation
Name of the Regiment in Sinhala is -
Motto of the Regiment in Sinhala is - Pro Patria (English: For the Fatherland)
Finishing and combination of colours - This emblem is made of aluminum metal and only gold and silver colors are used in order to colour the symbols of the emblem.
Lion - Gold
Convex Shield - Silver
The name and the motto of the Regiment - Silver
Letters - Silver
Two ears of paddy - Gold
Two paws holding the sword - Gold
Two complete swords - Silver
Units[4][]
- 1st Sri Lanka National Guard
- 2nd Sri Lanka National Guard
- 3rd Sri Lanka National Guard
- 4th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 5th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 6th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 7th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 8th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 9th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 10th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 11th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 12th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 13th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 14th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 15th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 16th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 17th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 18th Sri Lanka National Guard
- 19th Sri Lanka National Guard
- RHQ BN Sri Lanka National Guard[5]
- Sri Lanka National Guard Training Centre
Order of precedence[]
See also[]
- Sri Lanka Army
- Ceylon National Guard
- Colombo Town Guard
- Sri Lanka Home Guard
Sri Lanka portal
References[]
- ^ South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book. Panchsheel. 2009. p. 286. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka National Guard". alt.army.lk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Major General D.W Hapuarachchi (Retd) of SLSR Passes Away | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka National Guard". alt.army.lk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka National Guard". alt.army.lk. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
External links and sources[]
| Leadership | |||||||||||||||||
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| Organisation |
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| Ranks and insignia | |||||||||||||||||
- Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
- Infantry regiments of the Sri Lankan Army
- Military units and formations established in 1991
- 1991 establishments in Sri Lanka
- Reserve forces of Sri Lanka