HISTORY OF THE 7 FIELD ENGINEER REGIMENT

BRIEF HISTORY

The history of the 7 Field Engineer Regiment dates back to 10 November 1993 when the unit was raised at the Army Cantonment Panagoda. The first Commanding Officer of the Regiment was Lieutenant Colonel H A N T Perera CENG AMIE and the unit was established at the Nadesweran School in Kankasanthurei. From Kankasanthurei the unit relieved the 1 Field Engineers Regiment SLE which was deployed in Iddaikaddu Forward Defence Lines on 4 March 1994.

During Operation Riviresa, the unit was placed in the flank of 51 Infantry Division and advanced to Jaffna town and established the FDL in Atchchuveli. From Atchchuveli the unit moved to Mannippay and Vaddukkodai where it was performing infantry duties under command to 513 Brigade. In May 1998, the unit was deployed in the 54 Infantry Division Area of Responsibility and took up defence in the Paranthan / Killinochchi forwards defence lines. On September 1998, the FDL manned by the unit came under LTTE attack which the unit repulsed with success. With a large number of casualties and damage to the unit, it was placed on reserve at 54 Infantry Division Headquarters in Elephant pass on January 1999..

On September 1999, the unit was redeployed in Veththilaikerni FDL and again on December 1999 the unit faced another attack by the LTTE causing heavy casualties and damages to the unit. The unit successfully repulsed this attack and redeployed in Kuveni Junction. With the tactical withdrawal of Elephant Pass, the unit was deployed in Nagarkovil and on 4 June 2002 the unit was converted into a classic field engineer unit. On 12 July 2003 the unit was redeployed in Minneriya and relieved 1 Field Engineers providing engineer support to Security Forces Headquarters (East).

ACHIEVEMENTS

Since its formation as a Reinforcement unit, 7 Field Engineer Regiment performed its duties to the expectation of the ground commanders. From the time the unit performed duties in the Jaffna Peninsula and Valikkamam West under command to 51 Infantry Division, the unit successfully averted tragedy by recovering large hauls of explosives and destroying LTTE cadres.

During the attacks on the FDL in Paranthan on September 1998, the unit successfully held the defence and held the line from Paranthan. During this attack, the unit suffered heavy deaths and casualties. On December 1999 when the Vettilaikerni- Pulaveli defence came under heavy LTTE attack, the Unit with heavy casualties managed to hold the advancing LTTE terrorists..

The unit contributed immensely during the Humanitarian Operations in the East and also on the following civil and military development projects.

• Outer Circular Road Trincomalee.
• Kallar - Mavil Aru Road
• Kayankerni Bridge
• Panichchankerni Bridge
• Lanka Patuna Bridge
• Wadumunei Bridge
• Seruvawila - Somawathiya Road
• Renovated 12 tanks in the Kanthale and Thincomalee area under the Sirisara Pivisuma National Development Project.
• CBRN assistance for prevent COVID – 19 Pandemic Situation in SFHQ (E) AOR
• Siriode tank construction in Namalgama
• Earth works at Diyakawa CormorantStrike XI 2021
• Preparation of playground at Ranawiru village in Alahara
• Construction of playground at Agrabodi Vidyalaya in Kantale
• Construction of playground at Vinayagar Vidyalaya in – Unnachchi
• Construction of playground at Rajarata Vidyalaya in Higurakgoda
• Cleared 43 Demining sites in the Eastern area and handed over to civil authority.

PRESENT TASKS

7 Field Engineer Regiment is presently providing field engineer and plant engineer support to SFHQ (East). In addition, the unit performs Humanitarian Demining tasks in several areas in the SFHQ (E) with following development projects.

• Earth moving task at RODC Stage (VIII)
• Earth moving task at Pl Engr Bde - Kantale
• Preparation of internal road at RODC - Punani
• Earth moving task at 221 Bde

APPOINTMENT HOLDERS

Commanding Officer	-	Major JC Mapatuna RSP SLE
Second in Command	-	Major HPU Dasanayake USP SLE
Adjutant	-	Captain HTM Thilakasiri SLE
Intelligence Officer	-	Captain KBRT Kumara SLE
Quarter Master	-	Captain (QM) A Gamini USP SLE
Regimental Sergeant Major	-	Warrant Officer I KPN Piyarathna USP
Artificer Sergeant Major – Field	-	S/Sgt Ariyasena KP
Artificer Sergeant Major – Plant	-	Warrant Officer II Piyarathna UPHI
Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant	-	Warrant Officer II Senawirathna WPGAB
70 HQ Squadron	-	Major KMCS Bandara SLE
71 Field Squadron	-	Major DMKS Disanayaka SLE
72 Field Squadron	-	Major UA Chandrasiri SLE
73 Field Squadron	-	Captain ASPP Fonseka SLE
74 Plant Squadron	-	Major MSM Senarathne SLE