Rex De Costa
| Rex De Costa | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1920 - April 9, 1971 (aged 50) Colombo, Ceylon |
| Died | Deniyaya, Ceylon |
| Service/branch |
Ceylon Defence Force Ceylon Army Volunteer Force |
| Years of service | 1944-1956 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit |
Ceylon Medical Corps, Ceylon Army Medical Corps, Ruhunu Regiment |
| Commands held | 1 Battalion, Ruhunu Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
World War II, 1971 Insurrection |
| Awards |
Member of the Order of the British Empire, War Medal 1939–1945, Defence Medal |
| Other work | Vice President, World Veterans Federation |
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Anthony St. Clare Rex de Costa, MBE, CAVF (June 15, 1920 - April 9, 1971) was a reputed Sri Lankan medical doctor and soldier. He was the commanding officer of the Ruhunu Regiment, a doctor in the Ceylon Defence Force during World War II and a vice president of the World Veterans Federation. He was assassinated by the JVP during the 1971 Insurrection.
Born to Dr Marceline de Costa and Lilia De Costa nee Rajapaksha. He was educated at the Royal College, Colombo and at the Colombo Medical College. After graduating, de Costa joined the Ceylon Medical Corps of the Ceylon Defence Force as a lieutenant during World War II and served in active duty until the demobilization at the end of the war, yet stayed on as a reservist with the rank of captain. His brother Malcolm de Costa joined the Ceylon Navy Volunteer Reserve and served with the Royal Navy during the war. Reaching the rank of captain, Malcolm served as commander, Volunteer Naval Force.
When the Ceylon Army was formed in 1949 after Ceylon gained its independence, de Costa strayed with the newly created Ceylon Army Volunteer Force as a major and played a significant part in its early stages. In 1954, with the formation of the Ruhunu Regiment a reserve force raised from personal from the southern province he transferred to it.
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