5th Battalion the Gemunu Watch

This battalion was unofficially raised at JAFFNA on 1 April 1987 with extracted troops mainly from 1 GW, 4 GW and the officers and other ranks who voluntarily joined from Signal Corps, Sinha Regiment, Sri Lanka Service Corps and from Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Brigadier G W W Perera became the first Commanding Officer of this battalion.
The battalion was officially raised on 1st June 1987 by a Gazette notification.

From the day when the battalion was raised, it heavily involved in offensive and defensive military operations in order to eradicate the insurgents and terrorists from the motherland. Also this battalion was devoted and dedicated in restoring the normalcy during various national calamities and natural disasters in the country.

On 13 June 2000, the 7th battalion the Gemunu Watch was amalgamated with this Battalion In Nagarkovil. It was named as 5/7 Gemunu Watch due to heavy operational requirement. the existed 5/7 Gemunu Watch was reformed as 5th   battalion the Gemunu Watch.

During the 30 years of war, a total number of 29 Officers and 576 other rankers of this battalion have made their supreme sacrifice to the nation and 18 Officers 450 other rankers  are permanently disabled.

Former Commanding Officers: