125 years of service and sacrifice
View(s):SLA Regiment to be awarded Presidential colours at spectacular anniversary celebration
The Commander in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the chief guest at the 125th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) Regiment, one of the oldest and most reputed regiments in the Army which will be awarded president’s and regimental colours for the first time in history. The anniversary was on April 12 but the spectacular anniversary celebration will be held on April 23, at the SLA Regimental Headquarters, Panagoda.
The Regiment of Artillery as a fully fledged professional outfit to this date has produced three past Commanders of the Army, 19 Major General ranks and a fine assortment of sportsmen, including those who have excelled in Asian Athletic Championships, World Military Games and the Asian Games in Qatar bringing bronze medals home. For over 33 years the S L A has won the Army Inter Regiment Athletic Championship and produced many national level sportsmen.
Sri Lanka Artillery was first raised as a gun battery with 50 Europeans on April 12, 1888 under the command of Capt. C.E.H. Symons for the defence of the port of Colombo. It was then known as Ceylon Artillery Volunteers (CAV). D.S. Senanayake, the first prime minister of Sri Lanka was also on the roll for the CAV in 1949.
It was one of the first units to be raised in the Ceylon Army in 1949 when the Ceylon Garrison Artillery was converted into the Ceylon Artillery under the Army Act of 1949. The 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment of Sri Lanka of the Ceylon Artillery was the first artillery unit to be formed under the Ceylon Army. The 2nd Volunteer Coastal Artillery/Anti-Aircraft Regiment was also formed in 1949. In 1953, 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was renamed as the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (LAA) and the 3rd Field Regiment Ceylon Artillery was also formed the same year.
Colonel C.E.H. Symons and officers at ‘Uragasmanhandiya’
Presidential colours are the highest accolade a regiment could receive in its life span as a tribute to the invaluable services and numerous sacrifices so far made for the defence of the country.
It also symbolises a gesture of eternal veneration to the memory of 43 officers and 529 other ranks who made the supreme sacrifice during the 30 year old war as well as a salute to over 18 officers and 300 other ranks who have been disabled due to injuries sustained in the fighting.
During the ceremony a special first day cover is to be released by the Postal Department by Minister of Posts Jeewan Kumarathunge and the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.
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