History of the Armoured Brigade Sri Lanka Armoured Corps

Sri LankaArmoured Corps, which possessed only reconnaissance vehicles at the inception, underwent considerable expansion due to increasing terrorist activities in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka. Armoured Corps played a vital role in anti - insurgent activities to maintain law and order during both JVP insurrections. Since the emergence of northern separatism, Armoured Corps has been playing a vital role in almost all the military operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Army. The Armoured Corps in the evolution increased its strength and organizational structure. Presently a fully-fledgedArmoured Brigade is functional. The Commander Armoured Brigade is also the Director of Armour in which capacity he advises the Commander of the Army on Armour matters.

Since the inception in 1989 to date, the Armoured Brigade was commanded by following senior officers:

Brig T N De Silva was the 1st Commander of the Armoured Brigade which was raised on 17th Jan 1989. He has handed over the command to Brig P AKarunathilake RWP on 30th Nov 1989.

The most significant event of the Armoured Brigade was the raising of 4thArmoured Regiment and the arrival of T 55 MBTs from Czech Republic in the year 1991. Initially 25 x MBTs and 2 x ARVs were brought. With this induction, the existing tactical deployment of Armour was transformed considerably.

During the period of 1990/1992, a number of operations were launched in which, units and sub units of the Armoured Brigade contributed actively and effectively. During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of the operations under the command of Brig P AKarunathillake RWP as the Commander Armoured Brigade.

Brig D Kaluphana RSP USP psc took over Command of the Armoured Brigade from Brig P A Karunathilake RWP on 20thFeb 1994. During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

At the inception of the Armoured Brigade, it functioned as a single entity. With the expansion of the organization and induction of new equipment, a requirement arose to separate the combat elements from administrative elements, to perform efficiently in the battlefield. Since the ArmouredBrigade had expanded its theatres of operation by deploying 1, 3, 4 and 5 SLAC in multiple theatres, there was animperative requirement to decentralize command and control. This resulted in raisingof a Mechanized Bridged in the latter part of 1993 which consisted of 1, 3, 4 and 5 SLAC under its command.

Brig N R Marambe RSP USP psc took over the command of Armoured Brigade from Brig D Kalupahana RSP USP psc on 10th Jan 1995.During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

The joint Operation Headquarters was established and an Overall Operation Commander was appointed on 27th Apr 1995 to plan and coordinate operation to neutralize LTTE and to re-establish Government control in the LTTE controlled areas. As the higher strategy and the operational plan evolved to accomplish this task, new operational organizations came into being in the form of 51, 52 and 53 Divisions. 51 and 52 Divisions were organized with 03 x Infantry Brigades in each. 53 DIVISION was organized with the Air Mobile Brigade as 531 Brigade, the Independent Brigade as 534 Brigadeand an Infantry Brigade as 532 Brigade.

The existing Mechanized Brigade was converted to on operational Armoured Brigade named as 533 Brigade, which was under command to the 53 Division on 30th Sep 1995. 3, 4 and 5 SLAC which were deployed in Palaly camp under operational command of this Brigade.

The 533 Armoured Brigade consisted of the following regiments :

3rd Reconnaissance Regiment
4thArmoured Regiment
5th Reconnaissance Regiment
Armoured Workshop - EME

On 07th May 1996 Brig N R Marambe RSP USP psc handed over the command of the Armoured Brigade to Col G Balasuriya RWP USP psc.During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

Since its inception the Armoured Brigade contributed in all operations conducted up to the termination of conflict in all theatres of operation at Squadron, Regiment and Brigade level. The honour and credit should go to the Officers and men who have actively participated in operations. Special mention must be made to the EME personnel who have toiled day and night to keep the Armoured Fighting Vehicles in operational condition.

In 1996 another 15 x MBTs were inducted to 4 AR from Czech Republic. On 03rd Jan 1997, the Command of the Armoured Brigade was handed over by Col G Balasuriya RSP USP psc to Col G AChandrasiri RWP USP psc. During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

Col G AChandrasiri USP psc handed over the command of the Armoured Brigade to Col J Jayasuriya USP psc on 08th Oct 1997.

6th Regiment received new BTR 80 / 80 A Armoured Personnel carriers from Russia and began a new phase in its role. 7 (v) SLAC was raised under the command of Lt Col M W EW Silva at KEERIMALAI on 22ndMay 1998. Troops from 7 SLNG were posted to the Regiment. TheArmoured Brigade was expanded with the raising of 8th Reinforcement Regiment on 30th July 1998. This regiment was formed at VASAVILAN. The first Commanding Officer was Maj L D R S Kumara.

During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

Col J Jayasuriya USP psc handed over the command of the Armoured Brigade to Brig G AChandrasiri USP psc on 29thDec 1997.During the period the Army conducted following operations and Armoured Brigade participated for many of them.

Brig G AChandrasiri USP psc handed over the command of the Armoured Brigade to Brig N A Ranasinghe RSP USP psc on 15th Jul 1999.During the period following operations were conductedby the Armoured Brigade.

Brig N A Ranasinghe RSP USP psc handed over the command of the Armoured Brigade to Col R M Jayasinghe USP psc on 15th Jan 2000.During the period following operations were conducted by the Armoured Brigade.

Col R M J ARathnayaka RSP USP took over the Armoured Brigade from Brig R M Jayasingha USP pscon 03rdMay 2002. During this period Defensive operations were conducted to prevent the enemy attacks and organized the regiments for offensive operations in terms of demonstrations and rehearsals.

Later Col R M J ARathnayake RSP USP handed over the Brigade to Col M P Peris RWP RSP psc on 12thJuly 2002. During this period Defensive operations were conducted to prevent the enemy attacks and organized the regiments for offensive operations in terms of demonstrations and rehearsals.

On 6th January 2005, Col M P Peris RWP RSP psc handed over command of the Armoured Brigade to Col U A B Medawalapsc. During this period Defensive operations were conducted to prevent the enemy attacks and organized the regiments for offensive operations in terms of demonstrations and rehearsals.

On 01st Feb 2006 Col U A B Madawalapsc handed over command of the Armoured Brigade to ColA M Perera RWP RSP psc.

The operations conducted during the period were as follows;

NORTH and EAST Humantarian Operation - 2006 to 2007

Operation for the liberation of MavilAru was conducted from 26th July 2006 to 8th Aug 2008 by SL Army where SLAC troops contributed their maximum for the success of it.

On 19th Aug 2006 Brig A M Perera RWP RSP psc handed over command of the Armoured Brigade to Col N Udawata RSP psc.

SL Army conducted the Eastern Humanitarian operation from 04thAug 2006 to 12thJuly 2007 to liberate the eastern theater of the country from LTTE activities. Following operations were conducted by SL Army where SLAC troops contributed their maximum for the success of those.

Operation to MUTTUR - 04th Aug 2006
VAKARAI Humanitarian Operation - 21st Jan 2007
BATICALO Humanitarian Operation - 11thApr 2007
THOPPIGALA Final Operation - 12th July 2007

On 25th Jun 2007 Brig N Udawata RSP psc handed over command of the Armoured Brigade to ColB APerera RSP psc

The operations conducted during the period were as follows;

EAST Humantarian Operation - 2006 to 2007
NORTH Humantarian Operation - 2007 to 2009

On 1stMar 2008Brig B APereraRSP pschanded over command of the Armoured Brigade to Brig S D T Liyanage RSP psc.The operations conducted during the period were as follows:

NORTH and EAST Humantarian Operations - 2007 to 2008

On 6th Nov 2008, Brig S D T Liyanage RWP pschanded over command of the Armoured Brigade toCol I P Ranasinghe RWP RSP psc.

The operations conducted during the period were as follows:

NORTH and EAST Humantarian Operations - 2007 to 2008

During Brig I P Ranasinghe RWP RSP psc tenure following officers over looked the duties of Commander Armoured Brigade due to his other official commitments.

Col A S Wijewickrama 01.03.2009 – 12.04.2009 Col D T Gamagepsc 03.07.2009 – 03.08.2009

SL Army conducted the Northern Humanitarian operation from 08th Aug 2006 to 18thMay 2009 to liberate the northern theater of the country from LTTE command and control. There were series of combined operations as mentioned below;

The Wanni Operation launched by Sri Lanka Army after liberation of the MavilAru in the east on 08 August 2006 spread subsequently to other areas of the WANNI and the NORTH where innocent civilians were held as captives by the LTTE on Prabhakaran’s diktats.

LTTE terrorists were gradually challenged and defeated by the Army with the assistance of other forces while capturing LTTE strongholds one after the other. MANNAR, POONERYN, PARANTHAN, ELEPHANT PASS, MUHAMALAI, NAGARKOVIL, KILINOCHCHI, MULLAITTIVU and PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU were the main northern towns that fell into Army hands after heavy fighting in the operations.

The final phase of the war as the world’s largest rescue mission took place at WELLAMULLIVAIKKAL, north of MULLAITTIVU where the LTTE leader VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN was killed by the Army along with his top-level leaders who had well over 30 years infused terror, mayhem and destruction to the society.

During above operations SLAC Officers and Other Ranks continually contributed fully for the final victory.

On 5th Dec 2010Brig I PRanasinghe RWP RSP psc handed over command of the Armoured Brigade toColA S Wijewickrama.

NORTH and EAST Humantarian Operations

On 11th May 2012Brig A S Wijewickramahanded over command of the Armoured Brigade to Col D T Gamagepsc. During this period Defensive operations were conducted to prevent the enemy attacks and organized the regiments for offensive operations in terms of demonstrations and rehearsals.

On 11th May 2012Brig A S Wijewickramahanded over command of the Armoured Brigade to Col D T Gamagepsc. During this period Defensive operations were conducted to prevent the enemy attacks and organized the regiments for offensive operations in terms of demonstrations and rehearsals.

On 07th Oct 2013 Brig N I De Silva RSP handed over command of the Armoured Brigade to the present Commander Armoured Brigade, Brig R G U Rajapakshe RSP psc.

KIA/ MIA Officers & Soldiers as a Annex A and "B"