HISTORY OF THE 1 FIELD ENGINEER REGIMENT

BRIEF HISTORY

The origin of Sri Lanka Engineers dates back to 1911 when the Ceylon engineers was formed under Ceylon defence force prior to the world war II Ceylon engineers consisted with two fortress companies, one signal company and field engineer company to manage defence lights and engine in Colombo and Trincomalee, whilst a signal company was tasked to operate fortress signals.

At the cessation of World War II hostilities, all the units were disbanded and all ranks demobilized, but the Ceylon Engineer Corps continued to function as an Engineer Unit in the Ceylon Defence Force. Prior to the formation of the Regular Army in Sri Lanka on the 10th October 1949, the only Engineer Unit was the Ceylon Engineers (Volunteers). This was reconstituted in 1949 as 2 (V) Field Squadron, Ceylon Engineers, and under the Command of Lt. Col. Meurling. In January 1951, three selected Officers (Capt PD Ramanayaka, Lt RL Perera and Lt TP Withana) were sent for training at Chatham. At the same time, 08 Senior NCOs were sent to FAREFL in Malaya for Field Engineer training. On the 1st October 1951, the 1st Field Engineer Squadron, Ceylon Engineers was raised with the above 03 Officers, 08 SNCOs and 12 Sappers from the old Ceylon Engineer Corps and 80 recruits from the Army Recruit Training Depot, Diyathalawa.

With the independent, the Ceylon Army was raised in October 1949 by Army Act No. 17 of 1949. Consequently the only existing engineer sub unit was raised as 2 (Volunteer) Field Squadron, Ceylon Engineers” with the formation of the Ceylon Army, two regular Engineer Squadrons were raised, viz. the Works Services, Ceylon Engineers, in 1950, and the 1st Field Squadron, Ceylon Engineers, in 1951.

The first Sapper to join the Regular Army was Capt M L D A Perera who was commissioned to fill the vacancy of Garrison Engineer. The establishment was raised to that of G.C.E. (Works) in 1956. This Sqn was responsible for maintaining all Camps of the three Services in practically every province of the Island. Some special tasks had also been given to this Unit during National Emergencies such as the building of temporary camps, complete with lights and water, maintaining the essential services.

1 Field Engineer Squadron, Ceylon Engineers was formed on the 1st October 1951, to provide Field Engineer support to the Army. The Unit was raised at Imperial Camp DIYATHALAWA and trained as a Squadron to carry out its orthodox role. From DIYATHALAWA, the Squadron moved it’s location to the Rock House Camp, Mutwal and Echelon Square for a short period until it moved into Army Cantonment, PANAGODA, in 1953.

With the further build-up of the Ceylon Army, the Squadron was raised to the status of a Regiment on 1 October 1958 and was designated as the 1 Field Engineer Regiment, Ceylon Engineers consisting with 13 Officers and 390 ORs. The first Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. (Brig retd) PD Ramanayaka.

In 1989, Regiment was brought down from Mullaitivu and Trincomalee and was given the task of combating the insurgent activities of People's Liberation Front (JVP - JanathaVimukthiPeramuna), deployed in Colombo and its suburbs. From the beginning of the year 1990 the Regiment was deployed fully in Badulla district.

2003 is the terminal era of 1 Field Engineer Regiment. The Regiment was shifted to Jaffna Peninsula to release the 7 Field Engineers, and took over the duties of 53 and 55 Divisions. We started a major role with Humanitarian Demining, RONCO consulting co-operation has joint with us and we performed our duties well. Meanwhile we constructed Forward Defence Lines, Strong points, in Peninsula. In 16th July 2007, we constructed the Thondamanaru Bridge. It is the longest bridge that Engineers has ever made (340 Feet).

The regiment was deployed in Jaffna peninsula until 2011. Then 1 Field Engineer Regiment shifted to their home at Army cantonment, Panagoda on 15 July 2011, in this period regiment comprised with enormous military and Nation building projects and rescue operations of natural disasters within the country and neighbouring countries.

The Regiment was re-deployed at Army camp Boo Oya after Battalion training at Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering on 17 May 2017. In this manifesto, the Regiment had to provide plant engineer support to “Sirisara Pivisuma” project, which is being continued. In this phenomenon 1 Fied Engineer Regiment had to be shifted to Clapenburg, Trincomalee where the “Sirisara Pivisuma” project was going on.

The regiment shifted to their present location at – Panagoda on 18 August 2020 to support SFHQ (West) AOR and 1 Field Engineer Regiment is operationally under commanded to the General Engineering Brigade in order to facilitate dynamic plant engineering works as nation building tasks.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The unit was responsible for the construction of 1000 m range at Panaluwa 1953. 1 Field Engineers was also involved in the earth works at Sugathadasa Stadium in 1958. The unit also constructed a 80' double single Bailey Bridge at Anuradhapura in 1960. Other projects undertaken by the unit are as follows:

• Construction of 80' suspension bridge across the Galoya on Damana Road in 1961.
• Construction of 90' steel bridge on Hiniduma - Neluwa Road in 1961.
• Construction of 80' Bailey Bridge at Amparai - Inginiyagala Road in 1963.
• Construction of Buttala - Katharagama road (22 miles) in 1972.
• Debarawewa Project in 1974.
• Leveling and soil filling at the Galle Face Ground in 1974.
• Earth works of main dam at Bowetanna Project in 1970.
• Earth works / construction assistance for Colombo - Katharagama main road in 1975.
• Earth works to Mahaweli Development Board in 1975.
• Jungle clearing for sugar factory at Kanthale for Sugar Cane Cultivation in 1975.
• During the Edibala, engineers have secured the Purawasakulam - Mannar Road, reconstructed Mannar Road and bridges in 1997.
• Construction of a Compact 200 bridge in Olumadu in 1998.
• Humanitarian De - mining, with the assistance of Ronco consulting agency.
• Construction of the Thondamanaru Bridge on 16th July 2007. It is considered to be the longest bridge that Engineers has ever launched (340').
• Initial ground preparation for defence headquters project at baththramulla
• Successfully completed huge numbers of civil Projects under “sirisara Pivisuma”
• Completed Several civil Project under “Gamasamaga Pilisadarak”
• Renovation PD Ramanayaka Ground as Rugby and Soccer playground at Panagoda

Sports and other achievement

• Cpl Karunananda RJK represented Ceylon in athletic at TOKIYO Olympic in 1964.
• L/Cpl Perera RAW represented Ceylon in athletic a
• t MEXICO Olympic in 1968.
• Cpl Rosa SLB won gold medal in the event of 5000 and 10000 meters at the Asian games held in BANGKOK. Represented Ceylon in 1972.
• Maj H Wilson was participated in national Bellied championship in 1974
• Maj TM Nandasena represented Ceylon in athletic in Asian games.
• Col L Rajasinghe represented Sri Lanka in shooting in many international competitions. He won several gold medals at the SA games in 1991.
• Maj SP De Silva represented Sri Lanka in Rugby and Soccer.
• Maj S Samarasinghe SLE coach the Sri Lankan Boxing team for SAF games in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995. He also a referee and judge in the ABA Sri Lanka.
• 1 Field Engineer Regiment Drill Platoon won the 1st place in Inter Regiment Drill Competition in Year 2013
• 1 Field Engineer Regiment Drill Platoon won the 1st place in Inter Regiment Drill Competition in Year 2016.

PRESENT TASKS

• Construction of Ground and walking track (stage II ) - Battaramulla.
• Earth moving tasks to construct playground - Karandeniya Military Intelligence Corps premises
• Land Preparion for Construction site for 12 GR new establishment – Balangoda
• Renovation of existing road network – 58 Inf Div
• Preparation of ground to construct officers’ mess building (Stage III) - RHQ GW – Kuruvita
• Soil filling to monument construction – KDU Rathmalana
• Preparation of army rugger ground – Panagoda
• Preparation of playground Defence Services School – Malay Street, Colombo
• Deming task at general area Muhamalai

PRESENT APPOINMENT HOLDING OFFICERS

PRESENT APPOINMENT HOLDING SNCO

PAST COMMANDING OFFICERS

FORMER REGIMENTAL SARGENT MAJORs

PRESENT DEPLOYMENT