FIELD ENGINEERING WING.
Office of Chief Field Engineer coordinated number of military and non military projects in the Field Engineering matters in order to ensure the national security as well as to assist the civil authorities.
- Respond to Meethotamulla Landslide.
Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse in year 2017.04.14 and Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers was assigned to rescue the affected people. This office coordinated with the civil authorities in order to ensure the safe life of the people.
- Respond to Easter Sunday Bomb Blast.
The bomb disposal team and other field engineering assistance were coordinated with the instruction of the Ministry of Defence in order to ensure the security of the nation after the Easter Sunday Bomb blasts.
- Activities during the COVID 19 Pandemic.
This office coordinated the requirements for the disinfections, quarantine, etc during the COVID 19 pandemic since 2020.
- Respond after Sinking “MV X-PRESS PEARL”
The container carrying ship “MV X-PRESS PEARL” sank Northwest of Colombo port with containers of chemical agents in 2021. The respond team of the corps was employed to prevent the damages that can be harmful to the environment.
INVOLVEMENT IN HUMANITARIAN DEMINING (HDM)
At the end of the Humanitarian Operation, the urgent challenge to make Sri Lankan soil free from menace of mine threat was emerged. According to the initial survey it was identified that approximately 2,064 km2 were contaminated with mines and Explosive
Remnants of War (ERW). The program functioned according to the Sri Lanka National Mine Action Standards (SLNMAS) which was formulated while based on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). NMAC presently functions under the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training & Skills Development and Youth Affairs.
Contributions of Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit Under Field Engineer Brigade.
After signing of MoU by the government and LTTE in 2002, clearing of landmines and ERW identified as a prerequisite for resettlement of IDPs and reconstruction process. In this view, Sri Lanka Army commenced demining operations in Jaffna peninsula by the mid of 2002 with the assistance of RONCO Consulting Cooperation to train the first batch of demining operators and para-medics of the Sri Lanka Army. The resettlement and land releasing process initiated by SLA from year 2008 covering several DS divisions (Mutur, Kiran, Chenkalady and number of areas in Jaffna). Demining unit cleared 72 villages and government resettled 3,849 families in Chenkalady DS Division. Approximately 258 km2 has being cleared in Jaffna district from year 2003 to 2018 for resettlement. Sri Lanka Army carried out extra ordinary task by clearing Rice bowl, area consist with 13,000 acres of paddy land which provide considerable harvest to nation.
Utilizations of Dogs for Mine Detection Tasks.
Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers was introduced with dogs for mine detection tasks with the donation of six Mine Detection Dogs (MDD) on 18 April 2004 by the RONCO consultancy. Gradually, the MDD fleet expanded up to 34 with the receipt of MDDs in 2005, 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2019 from RONCO and Marshal Legacy Institute. The MDD teams worked for Sri Lanka’s urgent humanitarian need - demining were selected as the ‘best MDD team of the world’ in year 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019 by the Marshal Legacy Institute.
MILITARY AID TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES (MACA)
Office of Chief Field Engineer has played pivotal role in related to MACA, During Humanitarian Operations and post conflict scenario by extended assistant few of them are as follows:
- Construction of double single reinforced bailey bridge (140 feet) in Batticaloa.
- 40 feet pedestrian crossing overhead bridge at Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya
- Neluwattuduwa bridge constructed by 1 Field Engineer Regiment
- Beruwala bridge constructed by 5 Field Engineer Regiment.
- Alternative bridge constructed to renovate at Welipenna.
- Construction of a Bridge at Neluwa, 2017 by 14 CBRN Regiment SLE.
Following plant engineering and civil engineering works done by the sapper troops:
Some of contributions under the provisions of Civil Military Coordination Projects (CIMIC):
Sappers’ contributions at national development projects:
The military became the key stake holder of disaster relief operation during devastated situation also. Among this element, Sappers are playing a vital role from the beginning. The employment of well-trained men who backed with earth moving plants and field engineer equipment carrying out tremendous role in post-disaster relief operations. Few of them are as follows:
THE MISSIONS AWAY FROM MOTHERLAND
Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers is also fortunate to develop unilateral relation through following foreign missions which are remarkably highlighted in Corps’ history:
- United Nations (UN) missions.
- Relief mission in Japan disaster at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.
- Disaster relief mission at Nepal in 2015.
- The trainer mission for Maldivian National Defence Force Stage I in 2010.
- The trainer mission for Maldivian National Defence Force Stage II 2019.
UN Missions - United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
The MINUSTAH was provided with sappers under two deferent schemes i.e. additional contingent from Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers and engineer support element of main contingent. About 04x120 and 01x60 officers and Other Ranks contributed in additional contingent and engineer support element for main contingent respectively.
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The UNIFIL is provided with about 00x04 sappers at one cycle of contingent. The sapper team work with UNIFIL is responsible to provide EOD assistance required of Sri Lankan contingent at UNIFIL.
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
The known deadliest UN mission in UN’s history Sri Lanka contributed troops for the protection of UN convoy with a Combat Convoy Company (CCC) from 2017. The strength of 02x15 sapper officers and Other Ranks who were deployed in MUNUSMA exhibiting their outstanding skills and professionalism from 24 December 2017 along with Infantry. The sappers successfully disposed 7 x remote controlled IEDs and 2 x victim operated IEDs during the first mission of CCC MINUSMA. The performance of sappers, despite the extreme danger to their own lives were highly appreciated by the UN Secretary General and all operational staff of UN Headquarters, New York.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANT AND DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS (HADR)
Mission in Japan.
The Japanese experienced multidimensional disaster situation occurred with tsunami situation in Fukushima in 2011. The coastal cities of Sendai, Fukushima, Onagawa, and Ishinomaki were completely affected by tsunami. Secondary, the city was engulfed by a disaster in cooperated with nuclear threat with the explosion of nuclear reactor of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as an outcome of tsunami. Considering the magnitude of disaster and strong bilateral relation with Japan and Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government send a disaster relief team headed by Major CD Wickramanayake WV SLE to Japan on 11 May 2011 with 1x15 operated in Japan till 4 June 2011 and engage with the clearings process of destructed township being at the close proximity of hot zone of nuclear disaster.
Disaster Relief Mission in Nepal.
As Sappers extended its cooperative hands to Japan, a team of sappers launched in to the relief mission in Nepal in 2015. The Nepalese affected with a devastated earthquake in manganite of 7.8 claiming 1,400 lives on 25 April 2015. As a quick response of Sri Lankan Government, a disaster relief team was sent off for relief on 26 April 2015 consisting 141 personnel which included 6 officers and 49 Other Ranks. Then Commander Engineer Brigade, Brigadier HJS Gunawardene RSP USP psc lead the sapper team being the Deputy Commander to the contingent.
The Trainer Missions for Maldivian National Defence Force.
The Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) is sanctioned to use explosive or explosive means by the limitations of county’s constitution. However, the strategic level command of MNDF planning to train its members on EOD and bomb disposal time to time as compulsory necessity of national defence element. Sri Lanka was selected as the teaching partner of EOD training for MNDF. The Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers was tasked to designed and conduct of EOD, IED and BD training for MNDF within Maldivian territory, and provided two courses for MNDF in 2010 and 2019.
