Sri Lanka Light Infantry

Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Cap badge of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Active	1 April 1881 – Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Light Infantry
Role	Infantry/Light Role
Size	15 regular battalions, 8 volunteer battalions,1 RFT battalion
Regimental Headquarters	Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda.
Nickname(s)	SLLI
Motto(s)	"Ich Dien" German – (I serve).
Colors	Red and Blue
March	"I am Ninety Five"
Mascot(s)	Kandula
Anniversaries	1 April
Engagements	Second Boer War World War I World War II 1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Decorations	1 Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Col K.J Jayaweera RSP
Colonel of the Regiment	Major General Amal Karunasekara RWP RSP USP ndu psc
Notable commanders	Gen. Sir John Kotelawala, KBE, CH
Insignia
Identification symbol	"LIGHT INFANTRY" shoulder tab

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 regiment's origins can be traced back to the formation of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers (CLIV) force which was formed on 1 April 1881 by a proclamation issued by the Governor of Ceylon as a reserve unit in Ceylon. The first commanding officer of the force was Lieutenant Colonel John Scott Armitage and the Colonel of the Regiment was HRH Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. The regiment's current Regimental March I am Ninety Five and the Regimental Bugle Call were adopted soon after this. In the same year, HRH the Prince of Wales accepted the Honorary Colonelcy of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers, and the unit adopted his crest and motto as its badge. In 1892, a mounted infantry company was formed and later it became a regiment of its own by the name of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles.

The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteer force troops were sent to South Africa in 1900, where they took part in the Second Boer War. As a result of their service, the force was awarded a Banner from HRH The Duke of York. In 1902, King Edward VII became the Colonel-in-Chief.