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.
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.
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Wikipedia