The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සිංහ රෙජිමේන්තුව Śrī Laṃkā Sinha Rejimēnthuva) is an infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army; it is the second oldest infantry regiment in the army.

History Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was the first rifle regiment of the Sri Lanka Army and was formed on 1 October 1956 at the Imperial camp at Diyatalawa. The first battalion primarily consisted of 60 officers and other ranks from the Ceylon Light Infantry with Lt Col R. D. Jayathilaka MBE as the first commanding officer.

The D company of the volunteer Ceylon Light Infantry was transformed into the Rajarata Rifles under the leadership of Lt Col (later Colonel) S.D. Ratwatte, and went on to become the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment on 1 October 1956. On 1 October 1969 the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was formed at Hill School in Nuwara Eliya.

The regiment first saw action during the 1971 Insurrection and underwent an expansion with escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War. With the expansion of the regiment the Regimental Centre of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment was established on 9 May 1988 at Diyatalawa at the same location where the 1st Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was raised. Brig D Wijesingha was the first regimental commander. Later, on 21 October 1989 the Regimental Centre was relocated to Ambepussa Camp where the 1st Battalion of the Sinha Regiment was at that time. The regiment distinguished itself greatly during the Sri Lankan Civil War including having three Parama Weera Vibhushanaya and one Weerodara Vibhushanaya recipients. In 1990 the elements of the 6th Battalion successfully held the old Dutch fort of Jaffna for two months while surrounded and under siege until it was relieved by the subsequent Operation Thrividha Balaya. July 1991 the 6th Battalion garrisoned Elephant Pass base when it came under siege with the LTTE launching a massive attack on the base. The battalion held out what was termed the battle of all battles until it was relieved following Operation Balavegaya 18 days later.

On 3 May 2005 a contingent of troops from the regiment took part in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the only regiment in the history of the Sri Lanka Army to produce an army commander holding the rank of a full general (four star) and later a Field Marshal as indicated in the notable members area.

As a rifle regiment it marches in 140 steps a minute during parade when it is involved, together with the regimental band - the only Sri Lanka Army regiment to do so.

General Officer Commanding 54 Infantry Division Major General AMC Abeykoon RWP RSP USP ndc assumed duties as the 20th Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 29 December 2025. Brigadier PMS Karunaratne psc assumed duties as the 27th Commandant of the Regimental Centre Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 19 December 2025 during a charm ceremony held at the Regimental Centre, Ambepussa.

Units

NoUnitFormedFormed atDisbandedNotes1 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1956Imperial Camp in Diyatalawa 2 2nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1956 Disbanded Rajarata Rifles was re-activated and re-designated as 2nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment3 3rd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 1969Hill School, Nuwara Eliya 4 4th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 1985Ambepussa Camp 5 5th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 February 1987Kandy Camp 6 6th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment10 August 1987CTS Ampara First commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Weerasekara7 7th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment12 May 1990Ambepussa Camp First commanding officer was Major K.M.D.U.M. Kendaragama8 8th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 October 1992Konduwatuwana Camp First commanding office was Major J.C. Kotelawala9 9th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 January 1993Welioya Camp 10 10th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment23 January 1994Sankattaravayal Camp On 12 March 2012 re-designated as the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment11 11th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 April 1994Dewahuwa Camp 12 12th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment9 December 1996Ambepussa Camp 13 14th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 December 1996Ambepussa Camp 14 15th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment16 April 1994Ponnalei Camp 15 16th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment17 February 1997Ambepussa Camp 16 17th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 2007Kataragama Camp 17 18th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment30 March 2008Kalawanchikudai Camp3 August 201818 19th (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment31 August 2008Katukeliyawa Camp03 September 201819 20th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 2008Vavunikulam Camp 20 21st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 December 2008Ambepussa Camp 21 22nd (V) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 July 2009Ambepussa Camp 10 March 201222 23rd Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 August 2009Pooneryn Camp 23 24th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment1 October 2009Alampil Camp 24 25th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Pampeimadu CampDisbanded2nd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 25th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment25 26th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Vedivettukallu CampDisbanded3rd RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 26th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment26 27th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Gajasinghepura Camp29 February 20124th RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 27th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment27 28th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment20 September 2010Madu Camp29 February 20121st RFT Battalion Sinha Regiment re-designated as 28th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment28 RHQ Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment25 November 1999

Recipients of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya Corporal Gamini Kularatne Captain Saliya Upul Aladeniya Lance-Corporal A. M. B. H. G. Abeyrathnebanda Sergeant A. M. Anura Lance Corporal K. G. M. Rajapaksha

Recipients of the Weerodara Vibhushanaya Captain (QM) P. L. S. L. Cooray - 1989 Corporal R. P. R. Wickramapala - 1998

Commanders Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc – 18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army General G. H. de Silva, RWP, VSV, USP – 13th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army

Chiefs of Staff Major General H.S Hapuarachchi – 26th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu – 65th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

Deputy Chiefs of Staff

Major General Gemunu Kulatunge, RSP, USP – 4th Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Major General Jaliya Nammuni, RSP, VSV, USP – 6th Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Major General Kumudu Perera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu– 31st Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena, RWP, RSP, ndu – 42nd Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

Notable Members

General Anuruddha Ratwatte – Former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence Major General E. G. Thevanayagam Major General MAM Dias RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, PSC – Former General Officer Commanding, 54 Division in Mannar Major General Laksiri Waduge RWP RSP VSV USP ndu – Former Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Central Major General Susantha Mendis – Former Brigade Commander, 512 Brigade. Major General D.W. Hapuarachchi – Commanding Officer - 1st Bn SLSR, Founder Commanding Officer Sri Lanka National Guard Brigadier T.S.B. Sally - Commanding Officer – 1st Bn SLSR, Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army. Brigadier S.B. Miyanadeniya – Commanding Officer - 1st Bn SLSR, Director Training SL Army Major D.M.L.B.Dissanayake RSP – Commanding Officer - 15th Bn SLSR Staff Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya, – Bronze medalist 400m London Paralympics 2012, 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

Order of precedence

See also Sri Lanka Army

External links and sources

References