Central Arms and Ammunition Depot

Central Arms and Ammunition Depot

As there was lack of space for proper storage of Arms and Ammunition, the Central Arms Depot was established at the premises of SLE Regt, Panagoda, 10 store houses at Dombagoda and 2 store houses in RHQ SLSR at Ambepussa were constructed to store the Ammunition. Further underground and on-ground dumps were obtained from the Government Ammunition depot in Welisara to store Ammunition and Explosive.

Since the needs for Arms and Ammunition were increased due to the war, an Ordnance Factory was established in Dombagoda. This facilitated to produce mortar and mortar bombs for the use of the Army. The 'Kempia' Motar and their bombs are one of the product of this factory.

Then Lt Col DSG Kempitiya USP ato - SLAOC and then Lt Col K Piyasoma SLEME were the pioneers of the produced a gun called K-8 (Kempia) at the Ordnance Factory in Dombagoda. Later both of them were promoted to the rank of Brigadier. Brigadier DSG Kempitiya passed away after his retirement and Brigadier K Piyasoma SLEME is now retired.

A unit was established to refill ammunitions, both small Arms ammunitions and heavy weapon ammunitions, at the Central Arms and Ammunitions Depot (Kosgama) with 1 x 12 disabled Officer/soldiers during the period when Major DSA Dehiwatte ato was serving as the Commandant. Refilled ammunitions were used in annual firing meets. Two 550 RLB machines made in USA have been given for this task and helped refilling of up to 800-1000 rounds per day.

For training sessions, 9mm, 23 mm, 38 mm, 45 mm and 12 bore ammunitions are being refilled and 20,000 and 18,500 rounds have been refilled for training purpose in the years 2013, 2014 respectively.This unit also performs repairment of corroded ammunitions and mortar bombs and also the refilling and repairment of 25 mm pounder ammunitions for guard of honors.

A course on refilling of Ammunition commenced on 30 October 2003 and this initiative still continues as a project. Some of the training Ammunition needed for the Army are refilled through this project. Ammunition repair workshop has also been established. Arty Ammo and type of Motar Bombs were repaired with the help of a group of experts of the Ordnance Factory of Pakistan.

Forward Ordnance depots were established in the following units/locations to issue Arms, Ammunition and Explosive to operational requirements.

• 2 SLAOC
• 3 SLAOC
• 5 SLAOC
• Ammunition Depot (Welisara)
• Ammunition Depot (Boyagane)
• Ammunition Depot (Ambepussa)
• Ammunition Depot (Puttalam)

FORWARD DILIVERY OF AMMUNITION

Computerizing of weapon numbers released to units started on 20 September 2010. Stock reports were obtained from the each estbs on 01 December 2010 which indicated more than 130,000 discrepancies. They were divided into 13 categories and were resolved under the supervision of Col HL Guruge AATO.

As a result of a discussion held between Col HL Guruge AATO and Mr. HAS Smaraweera, then acting Auditor General, Auditor General Department on 07.10.2010, a group of 8 auditors reported to the Kosgama Camp for the first ever physical stocks inspection of Arms and Ammunition.

With the end of three decades long war, it was felt that inadequacy of space at the stores complex of the Kosgama Camp to store the excess Ammunition and Explosive. Therefore, it was decided to establish the Central Arms and Ammunition Depot at Veyangoda Camp on 28 February 2011 in accordance with proper storing regulations.

The newly renovated Central Arms and Ammunition Depot- Veyangoda was declared open by then Commandant Col HL Guruge AATO on 07.03.2011. Then Colonel JADP Jayathilaka USP ato assumed duties as the Commandant of the Central Arms & Ammunition Depot-Veyangoda on 01 Aug 2011. The Ammunition were shifted from the Kosgama Camp to Veyangoda and stored as per the storing regulations.

Role and Tasks of the Centtral Arms and Ammunition Depot

ROLE

To provide effective and efficient Ord supply of Arms/ Ammo to all dependent Ord estbs/ local units whilst ensuring responsibility/ accountability and professional/ modern technological/ user friendly approach in all Ord functions.

TASKS

• Advise all estbs in Sri Lanka Army on all matters/ functions relevant to Arms & Ammo.
• Receipt, inspection, storage, accounting, maintenance, fwd delivery/issue, repair & recovery, proof testing and disposal of all types of Arms, Ammo to dependent Ord estbs/local units as per relevant AHQ instrs and also ensure smooth functioning of Automated Wpn/Ammo Management System.
• Vetting and scrutinizing of all types of Arms, Ammo received both from local & overseas to ensure acceptable quality standards and productive Ord supply system.
• Ensure Proper accounting & maintenance of sufficient stock reserves of all types of Arms, Ammo as directed by AHQ
• Conduct of Ammo insps in all dependent military estbs as reqd and submission/review progress of such insp reports to Dte of Ops/Dte of Ord Svcs/ dependent units in time.
• Carrying out of refilling of ammunition reqd for competitive shooting as dir by Dte of Ops AHQ.
• Publication/updating of the price index for all types of Arms, Ammo annually.
• Conduct of special to Arm trg incl on the job trg for all Ord functions in Arms & Ammo for all Ord personnel under command to ensure a high level of technical competence among them.
• Conduct of trg activities (Lectures/Seminars etc) to educate dependant tps on proper storage, care & preservation of Arms/Ammo.
• Carrying out of all activities in entire procurement cycle for Ord stores for which funds allocated by Dte of Ord Svcs as per laid down procurement procedures whilst ensuring 'value for money and proper financial management

Commandants of CAAD

S/N	Rank	Name	From	To
01.	Lt Col	RL Sooriyaarchchi AATO	23.03.1992	20.06.1994
02.	Lt Col	LB Aluvihare AATO	20-06-1994	05.07.1995
03.	Lt Col	RR Ramanayake ato	05.07.1995	19.09.1995
04.	Col	LB Aluvihare AATO	19.09.1995	10.03.1997
05.	Maj	HGI Vidyananda AATO	10.03.1997	13.02.1998
06.	Lt Col	RR Ramanayake ato	13.02.1998	18.05.1998
07.	Maj	HGI Vidyananda AATO	18.05.1998	04.12.1998
08.	Maj	SDK Wijesekara ato	04.12.1998	06.02.1999
09.	Col	CJ Kottahacchchi AATO	06.02.1999	15.04.1999
10.	Lt Col	RV Udawatta psc ato	15.04.1999	20.04.2000
11.	Maj	SDK Wijesekara psc ato	20.04.2000	01.07.2003
12.	Lt Col	SDK Wijesekara psc ato	01.07.2003	18.08.2003
13.	Maj	DSA Dehiwatta ato	18.08.2003	25.02.2004
14.	Maj	NAWP Perera ato	25.02.2004	20.04.2004
15.	Maj	DSA Dehiwatta ato	20.04.2004	23.11.2004
16.	Maj	DSA Dehiwatta ato	23.11.2004	15.07.2005
17.	Maj	BAN Denial	15.07.2005	23.07.2005
18.	Col	CRS Fernando AATO	23.07.2005	30.08.2007
19.	Lt Col	JADP Jayatilake ato	30.08.2007	26.05.2008
20.	Lt Col	WAPM Wijesinghe RSP AATO	26.05.2008	05.10.2009
21.	Col	HL Guruge AATO	05.10.2009	01.08.2011
22.	Col	JADP Jayatilake ato	01.08.2011	18.08.2014
23.	Brig	WAPM Wijesinghe RSP AATO	18.08.2014	05.07.2018
24.	Brig	MEP Weerasinghe USP ato	05.07.2018	24.12.2019
25.	Lt Col	KMAWK Perera AATO	24.12.2019	30.03.2020
26.	Brig	GKI Vithanachchi ato	30.03.2020	07.07.2021
27.	Col	RAPAB Dissanayake AATO	08.07.2021	21.12.2022
28.	Col	KPNSK Kariyawasam Lsc AATO	22.12.2022	15.01.2024
29.	Lt Col	CD Samarathunga (Over Looking)	16.01.2024	09.02.2024
30.	Col	MAV Gunarathna USP ato	01.03.2024	Up to Date