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Sri Lanka Armoured Corps

Whither the Fates Call

History of the Armoured Corps Training Centre

The Armoured Corps Training Centre (ACTC) was raised in 1984 and Maj P A Karunatilleke was appointed as the first commandant of the school. The aim of raising ACTC was to train tradesmen required to operate the AFV fleet of the corps. However training related to other aspects also under took by the school in view of upgrading the standard of the officers and the men of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.

Maj G A Chandrasiri took over duties as the Commandant in 1986. During this year, ACTC received "Buffle" vehicles from South Africa. These vehicles were deployed for operational duties with trained drivers and gunner operators. "Unicorns" also were deployed for operational duties which were constructed by the SLEME. Summary of training during 1986 is as indicated below:

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Ferret Scout Car 11
2 Saladin Armoured Car 15
3 Basic Drivers 225
4 Riders 58
5 Mechanical Transport Officers 32
6 Unicorn 27
7 Buffle 16

Every driver received jungle warfare training as well. They were deployed on operational duties based on the instructions of North Central Command Headquarters. They also performed Internal Security duties within e Anuradhapura District.

Maj D V S Y Kulatunga assumed duties as the Commandant in 1987. The ACTC, which was at the North Central Command Headquarters complex, established its base at Kalattewa and was ceremonially opened on 1st January 1988. Summary of training during 1988 is as indicated below:

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1  Ferret Scout Car 12
2  Saladin / Saracen Armoured Car 14
3  Basic Drivers 42
4  Stalwart HMLC Course 10
5  Gunner Operator Course 65
6  Unicorn 48
7  Buffle 41
8  Recruit Training 120

The APV Squadron which consisted of 56 x Unicorns, 32 x Buffles, 10 x Stalwarts and 10 x Hosper Cars was maintained by the ACTC and always kept ready to be deployed anywhere in the country. The first Officer Commanding was Lt M W E W De Silva and he took over duties on 01st January 1988.

Lt Col M H C Malwatte psc took over duties as the Commandant on 31st May 1989. Construction of an office complex and Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess were initiated. Following courses were successfully conducted during the year 1989.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1  Ferret Scout Car 18
2  Recruit Training 240
3  Armoured Car Commanders 11
4  Signal Operators 24
5  Stalwart Operators 12
6  Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car Operators 12
7  Buffle 34

Lt Col N R Marambe took over as the Commandant on 29th October 1989 and Lt Col D V S Y Kulatunga took over as the Commandant for the second time on 25th May 1990. Following courses were conducted during the year:

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1  Ferret Scout Car 16
2  Unicorn 31
3 Armoured Car Commanders 17
4  Basic Drivers 38
5  Stalwart Operators 15
6  Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car Operators 21
7  Buffle Driver and Operator 62
8  Gunner Operator Course 24

Following courses were conducted during the year 1991.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1  Ferret Scout Car 48
2  Recruit Training 420
3  Basic Drivers 38
4  Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 43
5  Gunner Operator Course 48

With the induction of T 85 AFVs in 1991, and ACTC commenced training programs to train drivers and gunner operators for T 85. Lt Col W A Pamunuwa psc took over duties as the Commandant on 27th May 1992. Following courses were conducted in 1992:

SER COURSE  NO OF STUDENTS
1  Ferret Scout Car 19
2  T 85 Gunner Operator 21
3  Clerks 15
4  Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 10
5  Gunner Operators 43
6  Basic Drivers 113

Major M D W Kithsiri took over as the Commandant on 13th November 1992 and Following courses were conducted during the year 1993.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Ferret Scout Car 21
2 Riders 42
3 Clerks 25
4 Basic Drivers 114
5 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 24
6 Gunner Operators 31
7 Recruits 42
8 Tank Transporter Drivers 07

ACTC celebrated its 10th anniversary by organizing a Pirith chanting ceremony on 01th January 1994. Following courses were conducted during the year 1994.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Ferret Scout Car 23
2 Basic Drivers 88
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 07
4 Riders 19
5 Signal Operators 20
6 Armoured Car Commanders 97
7 Clerks 13
8 Recruits 70

Maj R M J A Ratnayake took over as the Commandant on 28th September 1994. Maj U A B Medawela took over as the Commandant on 28th April 1995. Following courses were conducted during the year 1995.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Ferret Scout Car 24
2 Basic Drivers 85
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 29
4 Riders 12
5 Gunner Operators 25
6 Clerks 15
7 Recruits 201

Lt Col AM Perera took over as the Commandant on 08th July 1995. The Trade Training Squadron of the ACTC was raised at Clappenburg camp, Trincomalee in 1996. This was aimed to provide more practical oriented training in trades related to Armoured Fighting Vehicles. Following courses were conducted during the year 1996.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Ferret Scout Car 19
2 Basic Drivers 61
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 24
4 Riders 12
5 Gunner Operators 21
6 Recruits 359

Maj S D T Liyanage RWP psc took over as the Commandant on 27th February 1997. Following courses were conducted during the year 1997.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 24
2 Basic Drivers 104
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 20
4 Riders 33
5 Gunner Operators 86
6 Tank Drivers 53
7 Clerks 19
8 Recruits 263
9 Troop Sergeants 15
10 Armoured Car Commanders 16

Maj R G U Rajapakse RSP psc took over as the Commandant on 03rd October 1997. Construction of Lt Gen D L Kobbakaduwa memorial library was undertaken and accomplished under the supervision of the Armoured Brigade in 1998. Construction of "A" and "B" vehicle model rooms and a sand model including a lecture hall were completed during this period. Following courses were conducted during the year 1998.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 13
2 Basic Drivers 85
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 20
4 Riders 11
5 Gunner Operators 89
6 Tank Drivers 44
7 Clerks 23
8 Recruits 145
9 Troop Sergeants 33
10 Armoured Car Commanders 12
11 Transport Sergeants 25
12 Junior Leadership 25
13 Driving and Maintenance 32
14 Radio Instructors 32
15 BTR Gunner Operators 20

From the beginning of the year 1999, Maj D T Gamage psc was took over the duties as the Commandant. Construction of new accommodation for the other ranks was completed during his tenure. Following courses were conducted during the year 1999

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 08
2 Basic Drivers 77
3 Saracen / Saladin Armoured Car 11
4 Riders 11
5 Gunner Operators 51
6 Tank Drivers 37
7 Clerks 30
8 Recruits 573
9 Troop Sergeants 21
10 Armoured Car Commanders 48
11 Transport Sergeants 14
12 Senior NCOs Logistics 19
13 Computer 10

Maj W A Ariyaratne took over as the Commandant on16th August 2000. Courses conducted during the year 2000 are as follows.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Basic Drivers 24
2 Gunner Operators 119
3 Tank Drivers 40
4 Clerks 23
5 Recruits 356
6 Troop Sergeants / Troop Commander 15
7 BMP Tank Drivers 12
8 Junior Leadership 31
9 Senior NCOs Logistics 11
10 BTR Gunner Operators 26

MBesides these courses, ACTC trained the Pistol & Rifle shooting teams of SLAC for Inter Regimental meets of the Sri Lanka Army. Following were the courses conducted during the year 2001:

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 12
2 Basic Drivers 90
3 Gunner Operators 41
4 Tank Drivers 65
5 Clerks 13
6 Recruits 352
7 Tank Commanders 24
8 Transport Sergeants 12
9 Armoured Car Commanders 33
10 Computer 13
11 BTR / T 86 Armoured Car 20

Then the Colonel Commandant Maj Gen G Hettiarachchi WWV RWP RSP USP psc declared open the newly constructed Officers Mess Bar, Visitors Room, Television Hall, WO's & Sergeants' mess, and Corporals' Club on 10th January 2002. Lt Col G J Piyatunga took over as the Commandant on 26th March 2002 and Following courses were conducted during the year 2002

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 12
2 Basic Drivers 75
3 Gunner Operators 54
4 Tank Drivers 28
5 Clerks 40
6 Recruits 373
7 Tank Commanders 19
8 Transport Sergeants 22
9 Logistics 14
10 Tank Transporter Drivers 5
11 BTR 14
12 Tamil 21

Lt Col S D T Liyanage RWP psc took over as the Commandant for the second time on 05th June 2003 and following courses were conducted during the year 2003.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 23
2 Basic Drivers 133
3 Gunner Operators 28
4 Tank Drivers 37
5 Clerks 86
6 Recruits 692
7 Tank Commanders / Troop Sergeants 49
8 Transport Sergeants 09
9 Logistics 12
10 Tank Transporter Drivers 09
11 BTR Drivers 12
12 Motor Transport Documentation 19
13 Signal Operators 68
14 Corporal to Sergeant Promotion 113
15 Trade Tests (Class 1) 61

Maj I P Ranasinghe RWP RSP psc took over duties as the Commandant on 4th June 2004. Two separate wings, Auto and Gunnery wing were established at Trade Training School (TTS) at Trincomalee. Following courses were conducted during the year 2004.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Combat Team Commander 13
2 Young Officers 09
3 Logistics 16
4 Tank Commanders / Troop Sergeants 43
5 Tank Drivers 23
6 Gunner Operators 56
7 Recruits 267
8 BTR Drivers 10
9 Basic Drivers 75
10 Tamil 11
11 Motor Transport Documentation 09
12 SNCOs Leadership 14
13 NCOs Leadership 39
14 Tank Transport Drivers 08
15 Clerks 43
16 Corporal to Sergeant Promotion 116
17 AVLB Course 15
18 Trade Tests (Class 1) 130

Lt Col A S Wijewickrama took over duties as the Commandant on 14th July 2005. Initial arrangements were made during this year to affiliate the ACTC to the Rajarata University. The courses conducted during the year 2005 are as follows.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Combat Team Commander 10
2 Tank Commanders / Troop Sergeants 43
3 Tank Drivers 41
4 Gunner Operators 32
5 BTR Drivers 23
6 Recruits 300
7 Basic Drivers 77
8 Tamil 31
9 Motor Transport Documentation 09
10 SNCOs Leadership 23
11 NCOs Leadership 74
12 Tank Transporter Drivers 08
13 Clerks 44
14 Corporal to Sergeant Promotion. 190
15 AVLB Course 15
16 Trade Tests (Class 1) 130

Lt Col N M C P Wijerathne took over as the Commandant on 17th March 2006. Following courses were conducted during the year 2006.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Combat Team Commander 13
2 Young Officers Course 10
3 Recruit Training course 353
4 Tank Commanders/ Troop Sergeants 29
5 Basic Tank Drivers Course 38
6 B Vehicle Course 57
7 Gunner Operators 47
8 Clerks Course 24
9 SNCOs Leadership Course 32
10 NCOs Leadership Course 31
11 BTR Drivers Course 08
12 Logistic Course 13
13 Tamil Training Course 10
14 MT Document Course 10
15 Gunner Operators Instr Course 11
16 AVLB Course 10
17 Mech Inf Course 05
18 551 B Tank Drivers Course 54
19 English Language Course 15
20 Cpl to Sgt Promotion Course 156
21 Class 1 Diver Course 47
22 Class 1 Operator Course 55

Following courses were conducted during the year 2007.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers Course 07
2 Recruit Training course 331
3 Tank Commanders/Troop Sergeants 21
4 Basic Tank Drivers Course 20
5 B Vehicle Course 57
6 Gunner Operators 36
7 Clerks Course 82
8 SNCOs Leadership Course 23
9 NCOs Leadership Course 13
10 BTR Drivers Course 15
11 Tamil Training Course 06
12 Driver Instr Course 09
12 MT Document Course 10
12 Cpl to Sgt Promotion Course 214
12 Class 1 Diver Course 45
12 Class 1 Operator Course 28

Following courses were conducted during the year 2008.

SER COURSE NO OF STUDENTS
1 Young Officers 23
2 Recruit Training course 133
3 Tank Commanders/ Troop Sergeants 28
4 Basic Tank Drivers Course 37
5 B Vehicle Course 86
6 Gunner Operators 692
7 Clerks Course 49
8 NCOs Leadership Course 09
9 BTR Drivers Course 12
10 Logistic Course 09
11 MT Document Course 12
12 Cpl to Sgt Promotion Course 19
13 T 55 Tank Driver Intensive course 68
14 T 55 Tank Gnr/Opr Intensive course 113
15 Class 1 Diver Course 61
16 Class 1 Operator Course 36