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Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers

Motherland Honour & Service

4(V) FIELD ENGINEER REGIMENT

Major H P U Dasanayaka USP SLE
Commanding Officer

BRIEF HISTORY

In 1910 the Ceylon Defense Force was raised under ordinance No 08 of 1910 to provide good order and discipline of the local Forces in Ceylon, which comprised all volunteer units. In 1910 the CDF was comprised of the following units The Ceylon Garrison Artillery

      • Ceylon Engineers.
      • Ceylon Mounted Rifles.
      • Ceylon Light Infantr.
      • Ceylon Planters Rifles Crops.
      • Ceylon Army service Corps.
      • The Ceylon Medical Corps.

During the period from the year 1911, the Corps of Ceylon Engineers had only 03 x 32. Their duties consisted of manning Engines and Searchlight required for Coastal Defense and Signal's Work. By the time of World War I they were able to recruit additional 148 to their rank and file. In 1926 the Commandant of the Ceylon Defense Force in Consultation with the G.O.C. Troops (Ceylon) recommended to Government that the Burgher Community of the Colombo Town Guard to be transferred to the Ceylon Engineers Corps. The Strength of the Ceylon Engineers Corps was 11 x 144 in 1927. The Unit consisted of

      • Two Companies of Field Engineers.
      • Two Companies of Fortress Engineers.
      • One Company of Signalers.

It is very proud to mention that in 1949, when the formation of the Regular Army in Ceylon took place after Independence, the only Engineer unit existed was the "Ceylon Engineers Volunteer". Thereafter in 1949 this unit was reconstituted as "2 (Volunteer) Field Squadron Ceylon Engineers" and with its formation, the Unit was handed over to Lieutenant Colonel F H M Potger ED by Lieutenant Colonel Meurling MBE, ED, CE. After his relinquishment the command was handed over to Lieutenant Colonel E A Rajasingham ED in 1952.

On 1st Sep 1964, a new Regiment was raised as National Engineering & Construction Regiment Ceylon Engineers (Volunteer) by taking some Officers and men from the Engineer Squadron of 1 Ceylon National Guard (Volunteer) who was qualified in engineering works. The first Commanding Officer of this Regiment was a Chartered Civil Engineer, Col R. Kumaranayagam. In this era the unit moved to the location of Colombo Race Course from the Repository Stores at Army Head Quarters - Colombo.

When the terrorist war started and the unit had to focus on many other tasks in helping the SLEME in their role and tasks. To mention a few, on the Army Commander's approval, Unit under took the fabrication of Uni-Corn vehicles for the transport of troops safely in the operational from land mines. Later the well trained, expert welders were absorbed by the SLEME unit and they under - took the task thereafter. On the instructions of the Army commander, the unit workshop was instrumental in repairing military vehicles on the basis of two vehicles a month in order to reduce the back-log of vehicles awaiting repairs at the SLEME workshops.

In the meantime, when emergency took out in 1988, 4 (v) SL|E troops had to be deployed again on internal security duties until 1989. To mentioned a few of the contribution made by the 4 (V) SLE troops is the assistance to the Regular Army in Vadamarachchi Operation and also to in providing security for Colombo area at strategic points such as Maradana, Labugama, Kalatuwawa, Mattakkuliya, Avissawella, Ratmalana, Ambathale and Mt. Lavinia.

02. ACHIEVMENTS

SPORT ACHIEVEMENTS

The regiment has excelled in the disciplines of sports from the beginning. The participation of the sports events has been observed in the highest degree and there had been several achievements which are in proceeding.

VOLLEYBALL

a.Inter Regiment Volleyball Championship (Volunteer Force) 2017,2019 – Champion (A Division)

b.Inter Unit Volleyball Championship 2018,2019- Champion

Winning the Championship for the second time in a row out of 10 Dot Units and 01 Volunteer Unit and winning the Best Player and Best Attacker awards.

DRILL

a.Inter Unit Drill Competition 2018 – Runners Up

b.Inter Unit Drill Competition 2019 – Champion

BASKETBALL

a.Won The Runners Up Inter Regiment Basketball Tournament - 2022

FIRING

O/10672 CAPT RMSS Rathnayaka SLE

a.Inter Regiment Combat Firing Championship 2022 – 3rd Place

S/4B02432 WO II Aruna Shantha DS

S/4B02432 WO II Aruna Shantha DS were performed outstanding performance in pistol and riffle shooting in Army Level and National Level.

a.Practical pistol firing meet 2008, 2010 – 1st Place

b.SLAVF Novices Pistol meet (Team) – 1st place

c. Hill Country Firing Meet 2009 – 3rd Place

S/4B02563 S/SGT INDIKA WVA

a.Inter Regiment Combat Firing Championship 2022 – 3rd Place

KARATE

S/4B02575 WO II Wijesooriya GRPK

a.Defense Service Karate Meet 2007,2009,2010,2012- 1st Place

b.National Karate Championship 2011 – 1st Place

c. Inter Regiment Karate Meet (Black Belt Team) 2015,2017,2018 – Champion

S/B100674 L/C Aberathna KRRN

a.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2014 – 2nd Place

b.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2015(Team) – 3rd Place

c.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (6,5,4 KYM) 2017 – 2nd Place

S/B100715 L/C Rathnayaka RMCG

a.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2012 – 3rd Place

b.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2015(Team) – 3rd Place

c. Inter Regiment Karate Meet (6,5,4 KYM) 2017 – 2nd Place

S/B100678 L/C Herath HMMB

a.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2014 – 2nd Place

b.Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7, KYM) 2015 – 3rd Place

c. Inter Regiment Karate Meet (9,8,7 KYM) 2016 – 3rd Place

d.National Karate Championship (3,2,2 KYM) 2018 -3rd Place

S/B101273 Spr Rajasingha RMNSS

a.   Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2014 – 2nd   Place
b.   Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2015 – 1st    Place
c.   Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2016 – 3rd    Place
d.   Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2017 – 2nd   Place
e.   Defense Service Karate Meet 2016 - 2nd   Place
f.    Defense Service Karate Meet 2018 – 3rd   Place
g.   National Sport Festival 2016 – 2nd Place

S/B100074 CPL Suresh Nilanga HA

a.Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2013 – 3rd Place
b.Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2014 – 2nd Place
c. Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2016 – 3rd Place
d. Inter Regiment Karate Meet 2017 – 3rd Place

CAROM

S/B101308 Spr Madushanka PLC

a.National Carom Championship 2014,2015 – 2nd Place
b.Inter Regiment Carom Meet 2017,2018 – 2nd Place
c.National Sport Festival 2017 – 1st Place
d.All Island Sports Clubs Carom Meet 2019 – Champion

WATER POLO

S/B101552 Spr Edirisingha RP

S/B 101552 Spr Edirisingha RP was representing in National Water Polo team and him also a captain of the National Team.

a.Inter Regiment Water Polo Meet 2016, 2017 – 1st Place
b.Sri Lanka National Water Polo Championship 2018 – 1st Place
c.Asia Pacific Water Polo Championship 2016 – 2nd Place

BILLIARD

S/B100689 L/C Samarakoon SJMP

a.Inter Regiment Billiard Meet (Team) 2013 – 1st Place
b.Inter Regiment Billiard Meet (Team) 2014,2015, 2018 – 2nd Place
c.Defense Service Billiard Meet (Team) 2018 – 1st Place

ATHLETIC

a.Inter Unit Athletic Championship 2018 – Runners Up

03. PRESENT TASKS

  • Construction Of Gs Branch Building at Headquarters Engineer Division, Mattegoda. (Temparory Suspended)
  • Renovation Works at Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
  • 04. PRESENT APPOINTMENT HOLDING OFFICERS

    APPOINTMENT HOLDERS

    Second in Command Maj DSPRJRB De Silva SLE
    Ajutant Captain GHPMK Silva SLE
    Intelligence Officer Lieutenant LRS Somasena SLE
    Quarter Master Captain (Quarter Master) SA Jayantha Kumara SLE
    Squadron Commanders
    HQ Squadron Maj SDCPK Senarathna SLE
    41 Squadron Maj GN Hewawasam SLE
    42 Squadron Maj LPT Maduranga SLE
    43 Squadron Captain HKM Perera SLE
    45 Squadron Maj LPT Madhuranga SLE
    46 Squadron Maj WRWMMD Wickramsinghe SLE
    47 Squadron Maj ND Wickramasinghe SLE
    Support Squadron Maj GN Chamara SLE
    DDP Section Maj WRWMMD Wickramsinghe SLE

    05. PRESENT APPOINTMENT HOLDING SNCO

    Squadron SSM’S
    Regimental Sergeant Major WO I  JMC Jayasinghe
    Drill Instructor WO II RATHNAYAKE  RMIAB
    RQ  WO II Jayawardana KM
    CC  S/SGT Somakeerthi WRC
    HQ Squadron WO II Pushpa Kumara DPJ
    41 Squadron WO II Jayasingha KMT
    42 Squadron WO II Jayasundara JMSB
    43 Squadron WO II Wagaarchchi S
    45 Squadron WO II Upulsiri KMN
    46 Squadron WO II Wijewardhana KGSP
    Support Squadron WO II KarunarathnA IMN
    DDP Section WO II Edirisinghe SLP

    06. PAST COMMANDING OFFICERS

    FORMER COMMANDING OFFICERS

    Lieutenant Colonel Henderson
    (From 1911 - 1915)

    Lieutenant Colonel H French
    (From 1915 - 1918)

    Lieutenant Colonel T. H. Chapman
    (From 1918 - 1923)

    Major E. B. Creasy
    (From 1923 - 1928)

    Lieutenant Colonel V De Rooy
    (From 1927 - 1932)

    Major B. L. Drieberg
    (From 1932 - 1933)

    Lieutenant Colonel Carl E Arndt
    (From 1933 - 1938)

    Lieutenant Colonel Stanly Fernando
    (From 1939 - 1942)

    Lieutenant Colonel Neil Shokman
    (From 1942 - 1945)

    Lieutenant Colonel Meurling
    (From 1945 - 1949)

    Lieutenant Colonel FHM Potger
    (From 1949 - 1951)

    Lt Col EA Rajasingham ED CE
    (From 1952 - 1953)

    Lieutenant Colonel FJG Caspersz
    (From 1954 - 1957)

    Lt Col JHV De alwis C Eng MICE (lond) FIE (SL) CE
    (From 1959 - 1962)

    Col Kumaranayagam
    ED Bsc (Eng) Hons
    (Lond) Dip UCL MICE MI Struct MIE(Cey)
    (From 1964 - 1966)

    Col CM Perera
    Bsc (Eng) Lond C Eng FIHE
    (Lond) FIE (cey)
    (From 1966 - 1973)

    Col PNK Dias
    Bsc (Eng) Lond C Eng (Lond)
    FICE (Lond) FIE (SL)
    (From 01.10.1973 - 01.04.1980)

    Lt Col LPG Fernando psc SLE
    (From 01.04.1980 - 01.06.1981)

    Lt col WD Samarasena SLE
    Dip Mesh Eng, Automotive Eng (west
    Germany) FIMI(Lond)MIBIM (Lond)FILE
    (SL)I Eng
    (From 01.06.1981 - 01.04.1987)

    Col ARFU Rahuman
    B Eng AMIE(SL)Msc
    FAIM FBIM P Mgr MIM (SL)
    (From 01.04.1987 - 15.05.1990)

    Col NN Wijarathne Bsc (Eng)
    (From 15.05.1990 - 15.07.1995 )
    Msc (Const Mgt),C Eng (Lond),MICE (Lond)

    Col SDAR Chandrasinghe Bsc (Eng), M Eng
    Const, Mgnt), C Eng, MIM (SL)


    (From 15.07.1995 - 01.09.1997)

    Lt col WB Soyasa SLE
    (From 01.09.1997- 14.02.2002)

    Lt Col PN De Silva SLE
    (From 14.02.2002 - 27.11.2004)

    Lt Col PMR Bandara psc SLE
    (From 23.03.2005 - 27.06.2005)

    Lt Col MMS Perera psc SLE
    (From 29.06.2005 - 31.12.2005)

    Lt Col DMGB Elikawela SLE
    (From 12.04.2006 - 30.04.2007)

    Lt Col R M K A Ranasinghe RSP SLE
    B Tech (CIVIL) MSE (LOND) MIE (LOND)
    AMSSE (SL)
    (From 30.04.2007 - 29.07.2009)

    Lt col PPA Perera psc SLE
    BSc (Civil Eng)
    (From 30.07.2009 - 22.03.2011)

    Col P Wimalasiri RWP SLE
    BSc Eng (Mech)
    (From 25.03.2011 - 27.12.2013)

    Lt Col DBL Kolonne SLE
    BSc (Civil Eng)
    (From 27.12.2013 - 25.01.2016)

    Lt Col F Joseph SLE
    (From 26.01.2016 - 06.02.2018)

    Lt Col TMP Jalal SLE
    B Tech (Civil Eng) NDT (Mech Eng) AflMIE (SL)
    (From 08.02.2018 – 06.07.2020)

    Lt Col SK Warahena USP SLE
    (From 07.07.2020 - 24.09.2021)

    Maj SJMECD Samarakoon Rsp Usp Psc SLE
    (From 15.03.2023 - 31.12.2023)