The Gajaba Regiment, one of the illustrious regiments of the Sri Lanka Army, celebrated its 39th anniversary on October 14.
The regiment was formed as an Infantry Regiment on October 14, 1983, after the amalgamation of the 1 Rajarata Rifles and 1 Vijayabhu Infantry Regiment.
The late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne was the founder of this prestigious regiment.
They groomed infantrymen with determination and bravery to eradicate the LTTE from the motherland.
In the last 39 years of its proud history, the Gajaba Regiment passed several special milestones, including expansions of battalions, military operations against terrorists at Kokilai (1985), Trincomalee, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Omanthai, Puliyankulam, Kanagarayankulam, Mankulam and several others in the North.
Among them, Operation Vadamarachchi (1987) is an unforgettable highlight in the chronicles of both 1 and 3 GR Battalions and much more, including the last humanitarian operations.
One-hundred-and-seventy-five Officers and 4,075 Other Ranks of this regiment were supremely sacrificed during the operations conducted to regain the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Mother Lanka.
Among them, Lieutenant K.W.T. Nissanka, Captain P.N. Punsiri, Major W.M.I.S.B. Walisundara and Warrant Officer II Gunasekara M.B.G. were awarded the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV), Sri Lanka’s highest military decoration for bravery in action.
The Gajaba Regiment produced one executive president and two Army Commanders.
Presently the regimental centre of the Gajaba Regiment is located in Saliyapura in Anuradhapura. Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage is the present Colonel of the Regiment, while Brigadier Vishawajith Vidyananda is the Centre Commandant.
The 39th anniversary was commemorated with all night Pirith chanting followed by an almsgiving to the monks in Saliyapura, to bestow merit to the fallen and wounded war heroes.
Floral tributes to the fallen war heroes and a military parade for the Army Commander were held with the participation of family members of fallen war heroes, regimental council members, members of the Seva Vanitha Unit, Officers and Other Ranks.
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