Gajaba Regiment


The Gajaba Regiment is an elite infantry regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed on 14 October 1983 at the Saliyapura Camp in Anuradhapura, it is named after the famous Sinhalese King Gajabahu the First. It consists of 14 regular battalions and 6 volunteer battalions.

History

The 1st battalion, Gajaba Regiment was formed on 14 October 1983 with the amalgamation of officers and men of the 1st Rajarata Rifles and the 1st Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne at Saliyapura Camp with a strength of 36 officers and 752 other ranks. The 2/3 Rajarata Rifles was reconstituted as the 2nd battalion, Gajaba Battalion at Fort Fredrick in Trincomalee on the 14 October 1983 under the command of the Lieutenant Colonel W.R. Wijerathna. The Cap badge of the Gajaba Regiment was designed with a shield, two Keteri and a Kandian powder flask. The newly formed regular infantry battalion was deployed for internal security duties in the Jaffna peninsula from 1983 to 1984 and again in 1985, where it sustained casualties in counter-insurgency operations. With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War and Sri Lanka Army expanded and to cope with the demand of operational needs, a multi-battalion structure was introduced. A second regular infantry battalion was formed as the 3rd battalion in January 1986. Both regular battalions took part in the Vadamarachchi Operation in May 1987. With the start of the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection, both regular and volunteer units of the regiment were deployed in the southern part of the island for counter-insurgency operations. The regiment took part in all major offensives of the civil war and was involved in many major battles were the Gajaba units involved suffered over 80% casualty rates such as the 3rd battalion in the Battle of Pooneryn and the 8th battalion in the Second Battle of Elephant Pass. By the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War, the regiment had 27 battalions and 3,500 of its officers and men had been killed in action.
The regiment was awarded President's colours by President Mahinda Rajapakse on 11 January 2007. In 2008 a detachment from the regiment was sent to take part in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Sports

; Gajaba Supercross
Since 1999, the Gajaba Regiment organizes the annual Gajaba Supercross in association with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders.
; Gajaba Cricket
In 2021 the regiment built the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium commissioned Thisara Perera as an officer.

Units

NoUnitFormedFormed atDisbandedFirst commanding officerNotes
11st Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment14 October 1983Saliyapura CampLieutenant Colonel Vijaya WimalaratneThis Battalion was established amalgamating the 1st Rajarata Rifle battalion and 1st Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
22nd Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment14 October 1983Fort Fredrieck, TrincomaleeLieutenant Colonel W.R. WijerathnaDisbanded 2nd Rajarata Rifles was re-activated and re-designated as 2nd Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment.
33rd Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment12 January 1986Major S.T.T. Jayasundara
44th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment17 August 1987Siddapura, Punani in Batticaloa DistrictLieutenant Colonel N. RathnayakeLater converted to 3rd Mechanized Infantry Regiment. From 23 November 2022, 24th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment Re-designationed as 4th Battalion the Gajaba Regiment
55th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment3 March 1989ColomboLieutenant Colonel P.C. Premachandra
66th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment17 May 1990Saliyapura, AnuradhapuraLieutenant Colonel T.W. Jayawardana
77th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment14 December1990Pankulam, Moravewa, Trincomalee DistrictLieutenant Colonel A.D.J.P. Suraweera
88th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment17 December 1992Saliyapura CampMajor T.B. MosethLater merged with 1st Gajaba Regiment on 4 June 2000 and later on 20 June 2001, the 8th Battalion Gajaba Regiment, was re- established at Saliyapura camp under Major H.R.N. Fernando.
99th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment8 March 1993Lieutenant Colonel A.D. SubasingheLater merged with 4th Gajaba Regiment on 1 June 2000 and later on 4 February 2004, the 9th Battalion Gajaba Regiment, was re- established at Saliyapura camp under Lieutenant Colonel G.S.B. Thenne.
1010th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment7 January 1994SaliyapuraMajor N.A.J.C. Dias
1111th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment21 April 1994HorowupothanaLieutenant Colonel H.H.L. DE Silva
1212th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment8 October 2007Lieutenant Colonel N.D.S.P. Niwnhella
1314th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment27 December 1997Major N.A. Dharmarathna
1415th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment23 January 1997Meegalewa BongamaMajor B. Ediriweera
1516th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment22 October 2008Illuppukadaweli Government SchoolMajor K.P.S.A. Fenando
1617th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment1 December 2007HorowpathanaMajor V.S. Kumarawansa
1718th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment30 March 20084 September 2018
1819th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment25 September 200825 August 2018
1920th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment5 December 2008Major R.M.A.B. Rathnayaka
2021st Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment25 March 20097 April 2012
2122nd Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment3 July 2009Saliyapura AnuradhapuraLieutenant Colonel D.R.N. Hettiarachchi
2223rd Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment18 August 2009Gajaba Regiment Center20 July 2023Lieutenant Colonel K.P.S.A. Fernando
2324th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment18 October 2009Saliyapura AnuradhapuraMajor D.U.N. SerasinghaFrom 23 November 2022 Re-designationed as 4th battalion the Gajaba Regiment
2425th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment10 November 200929 February 2012
2526th Battalion, Sri Lanka Gajaba Regiment1 November 2009Kalmadukulam??Lieutenant Colonel W M S N Eragoda
26HQ Battalion of Gajaba Regiment27 May 1993Major D.J.I. Peramunu Gamage

Recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya