Sri Lanka National Guard

Sri Lanka National Guard
Active 1 November 1989 - Present
Country Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Army
Type National Guard
Role Infantry
Size 34 volunteer battalions
Part of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
Regimental Centre Kurunegala
Nickname(s) SLNG
Motto(s) "THE COUNTRY BEFORE SELF "
Anniversaries 1 November
Engagements Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Centre Commandant Colonel JV Siriwardana
Colonel Commandant Brigadier WDLP Wickramasinghe RSP

The Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) is the largest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is a Volunteer Regiment made up of 32 battalions coming under the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

History

On 1 November 1989 all the prominent battalions, who deployed for the VIP guard, were amalgamated. The first guard was upgraded as a new battalion of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer force and was placed in Male Street, Colombo under the Command of the senior officer then Major S Weragama-SLAPC.

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 (now Major General) 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 Regimental Headquarters of Sri Lanka National Guard which had been temporarily set up in Male Street Colombo shifted to the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force BATTARAMULLA on 14 December 1991.

In this period of time 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 3DIVwas shifted to the "Punani" Army Camp on 5 May 1993, Colonel SD Lankadewa KSV was appointed as the new Colonel of the Regiment.

Lot of 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 Weherawatta 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 December 29, 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 (Form 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. As its first stage, the foundation stone for the office building 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 use 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 ceremonioly opened on 20 February 1999 by the Commanderof 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 ceremonioly opened on 1 November 2000 by him.

At 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 as 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 07.12.2007, 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 08th 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

Sri Lanka National Guard The flag of the Regiment

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.

Sri Lanka National Guard the Emblem of the Regiment

In the middle of the vertical emblem there is a Lion looking at the left direction bearing a sword . In its background there is a convex shield. On the either side of the shield there two gold colored ears of paddy and in the lower part of the shield there is a portion where the name and the motto is the Regiment is mentioned. Outside the shield there are two swords which crossed each other at the top. These two swords are held by two lion paws in the lower part of the emblem.

Introduction of other symbols used for the emblem

Lion - Reflecting the nation

Shield - Protecting the nation from enemies

Two gold coloured 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 - Y%S, xld cd;sl wdrlIl n<uqMZj Motto of the Regiment in Sinhala is - iajdrA:hg fmr foaYh

Finishing and combination of colours -This emblem is made of Aluminum metal and only gold and silver colours are used in order to colour the symbols of the emblem.

Lion - Gold colour Convex Shield - Silver Colour The name and the motto of the Regiment - Silver Colour Letters - Silver Colour Two ears of paddy - Gold Colour Two paws holding the sword - Gold colour Two complete swords - Silver Colour

Units

Order of precedence

Preceded by
Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps		 Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Last in the Order of Precedence

See also

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