The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment is an

infantry regiment Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

of the Sri Lankan Army. Formed on 22 March 1988, it is named after

Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa Vijayabahu I (born ''Prince Keerthi'') (ruled 1055–1110), also known as Vijayabahu the Great, was a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Born to a royal bloodline, Vijayabahu grew up under Chola occupation. He assumed rulership of the Ruhuna principal ...

(King Vijayabahu, 1055 to 1110 AD). The regiment consists of 17 regular battalions, 9 volunteer battalions and a headquarters battalion. Since 1993, its Regimental Centre is located at the

Boyagane Camp Boyagane Army Camp is a military base located close to the town of Kurunegala in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. It serves as the regimental headquarters of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment of Sri Lanka Army. See also *Vijayabahu Infant ...

Kurunegala Kurunegala ( si, කුරුණෑගල, ta, குருணாகல்) is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of the North Western Province and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was an ancient royal capital for 50 years, fr ...

History

Originally formed in 1982 and disbanded in 1983 follow its amalgamated with the 1st Battalion,

Rajarata Rifles The Rajarata Rifles was a former rifle regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. It was one of only three geographically based regiments in the Sri Lanka army. The cap badge of the Raja Rata Rifles show the figure of a ''Bherunda Pakshiya'' (Double-headed ...

form the

Gajaba Regiment The Gajaba Regiment (GR) 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 warrior King Gajabahu the First. It consists of 14 regular b ...

, the regiment was reformed on 22 March 1990. The first

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the regiment was W. J. V. K Wimalarathna. The regimental centre commandant was H. S. A. Perera. On 23 April 1993, the regiment was relocated to Boyagane Camp in

Kurunegala District Kurunegala is a district in North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Consists of and consists 30 Divisional Secretariats, 1610 Grama Niladari Divisions and 4476 total Villages. It consists of 14 Electorate Divisions, 02 Municipal Council, 19 Urban ...

. The Regiment consists of 25 battalions, the first of which was established in 1988. The Regiment numbers 655 officers and 16,501 other ranks. A new Regimental office was opened in January 2010. It features a herbal garden in remembrance of the soldiers from the regiment who have been killed in service. The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment has deployed two contingents in December 2006 and June 2009 to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

stabilisation mission in Haiti. and on 10 December 2011, one company to the

peacekeeping mission in

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

Training school

The Vijayabahu Infantry Training School was formed at Sinhavilluwaththa Puttlam on 15 January 1991. The first chief instructor was Upali Fernando. The school has conducted over sixty courses with nearly three hundred recruits per course. Over 13,127 recruits have been trained for distribution to various regiments. Special arms courses for officers and men have also been conducted at the school.

Welfare activities

The regiment provides death insurance for officers and other ranks. The Regiment Centre also runs the Vijayabahu Motocross, a popular annual motor racing event. The regiment has its own motor racing track, built in 1998. The aim of the motocross is to generate funds to provide welfare facilities for the families of the officers and other ranks killed or missing in action. It also aims to improve infrastructure facilities and rehabilitation work for disabled soldiers.

Sports activities

The regiment sports a volleyball team who won the champions of the Army "A" Division volleyball tournament of 2011. Disabled soldiers of the regiment participated in the Asian Para Games – 2011, as well as Commonwealth Para Games 2011.

Seva Vanitha activities

The Vijayabahu Seva Vanitha Branch (wives' auxiliary) supports the families of fallen soldiers. They have taken steps to facilitate the constructions work of Abimansala – Brave Hearts Wellness Resort for totally disabled war heroes by donating Rs 1.5 million on 2 September 2010, Rs 100,000.00 on 1 October 2010, Rs 5.45 million on 4 October 2010 and Rs 6 million on 11 July 2011. The total fundraising was Rs 13.05 million. The Branch has held commemoration ceremonies for the families of the killed and missing officers on 3 July 2010 and 14 May 2011 and has built 19 houses for the families of fallen and missing soldiers. The women visit Ranaviru Sevana, Military and Mental Hospital, Mullariyawa.

Fallen Officers

* Colonel Gamini Fernando 1 June 1995 – Commanding Officer of 1st Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment * Colonel Nizam Dane 24 June 1997– Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion of the Vijayaba Infantry Regiment * Lt. Colonel T. R. A. Aliba 18 July 1996- Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion of the Vijayaba Infantry Regiment in the

Battle of Mullaitivu (1996) The Battle of Mullaitivu ( ta, முல்லைத்தீவுச் சமர், translit=Mullaittīvup Pōr; si, මුලතිව් සටන ''Mulativ Saṭana''), also known as the First Battle of Mullaitivu and codenamed Operation ...

* Lt. Colonel N. H. K Silva 18 July 1996 * Major Janaka Kasturiarachchi 18 July 1996 –

Brigade Major A brigade major was the chief of staff of a brigade in the British Army. They most commonly held the rank of major, although the appointment was also held by captains, and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section direct ...

, 25 Brigade in the

* Major C. N. Siyambalangoda

Units

Order of precedence

References

External links and sources

Sri Lanka Army

Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

Unsung VIR Soldiers Commended
{{Sri Lanka Army Regiments Infantry regiments of the Sri Lankan Army Military units and formations established in 1988