Under the supervision of Brigadier KL Rasaputhram USP a Base Workshop and a fully fledged camp were to be constructed anew by renovating and re-furbishing with modern additions, the abandoned and dilapidated buildings previously managed by CTB.
A senior Officer Brigadier PC Patiraja USP on the eve of the regimental day celebrations held on 12.12.1994 died at mid night due to a sudden motor car accident. Brigadier K.Priyasoma assumed duties on 25th December 1994 as Commander Forward Maintenance Area (FMA East). This appointment was considered as the first where an Officer from the SLEME took position as Commander FMA.
Brigadier A.K Sooriyabandara USP was appointed as Director Personal Administration on 07January 1996. It must be mentioned that this was the first instance where a SLEME officer was appointed to this post. 2ndLieutenant WRCK Fernando SLEME underwent a Special Forces training course at the Special Forces Training School and was in turn entitled to wear the Special Forces badges.
Likewise S/68958 WOI K.M Rajapsksha received training as an advance drill instructor in the United Kingdom in 1996.
Due to the unsatisfactory situation prevalent towards 1997, difficulties confronted the service units to perform assigned duties in the Welikanda area. Considering these shortcomings instructions were received to deploy the service units in the MINNERIYA territory. As a result of this situation Major MAAD Sirinaga SLEME 2nd In Command relocated the 3 SLEME unit in the Minneriya area.
In a further move to modernise Unicorn Vehicles in 1997, on the guidance of EME Director Brigadier AK Sooriyabandara USP and under the co-ordination of Commandant EME Base Workshop Katubedda Colonel WGMUR Perera, the production of Unibuffel vehicles commenced operation. At a later stage this was carried on as a Major project in EME Workshops in Udawalawe and Katubedda respectively.
As a result of the escalation of the war situation the requirements to reinforce the Artillery Brigade with new Artillery guns and also gun towing vehicles became a necessity. Furthermore with the increase of such armoury, workshops were opened in places such as Palali, Minneriya and Vavuniya in order to offer urgently needed technical services. When considering the appointment of Brigadier WPP Fernando USP psc to the rank of Pro Marshal, it was the first time ever that a SLEME officer was inducted to such position. During the same period Director Sports Brigadier WPP Fernando USP psc was appointed to the post of Director Media in a similar manner.
Brigadier AK Sooriyabandara USP also received appointment as Master General Ordinance on the 04th June 1998.
Brigadier MG Muthalib USP and Brigadier AK Sooriyabandara USP was promoted to the rank of Major General on 24th February 1999. They were infact the first two Officers from this unit to have received such a promotion. While the SLEME volunteer company under the Officer Commanding was continued in the Regimental Centre, Major PL Tissera, assumed duties as the first Officer Commanding this Regiment. However all administrative requirements of volunteer OR's were accomplished by the Regimental Centre.
Major General AK Sooriyabandara USP happens to be the first senior officer of SLEME to be placed in the rank of Adjutant General as from 01st January 2001.
From 23rd January 2001 onwards Headquarters EME Troops deployed at Jaffna was renamed as the Officer Commanding SLEME Troops (North). The 'Ops Mercy' operation which was conducted by SLEME Regiment in 2001 was tasked with the responsibility of affording security to the railway control rooms during the railway employers strike in the year 2001.
The structure of the "SHOBANA MALIGAWA" motor chariot which was exclusively used by the revered religious campaigner Anagarika Dharmapala to propagate the ideas of Buddhist philosophy throughout the country in the year 1890 was refurbished in 2003 by technicians at the SLEME Workshop Katubedda under the able assistance of Lieutenant Colonel TN Jayasuriya which was later handed over to the Mahabodhi society to be preserved as a historical monument.
In accordance with the agreement entered between the United Nations Organization and Sri Lanka Lieutenant Colonel TN Jayasuriya and Lieutenant Colonel JLCR De Silva together with two other officers from Army Headquarters conducted an investigative study tour in UN Headquarters in the US and the state of Haiti in the year 2004. This study tour was conducted with the objective of forming the peace keeping contingent in the state of Haiti. As a sequel to these discussions one battalion from the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment was sent to Haiti on 25thSeptember 2004. This group comprised of one Officer and 27 Non Commissioned Officers from SLEME Regiment. Another significant event which took place in this backdrop is that Lieutenant Colonel TN Jayasuriya carried out duties as Commander Logistics of the peace keeping contingent while Major DA Amarasekara was in charge of administration.
In two other occasions following after the first participation, Lieutenant Colonel PSRL Rajakaruna , Colonel V Weerakkody, Colonel SDSH Gamage and Colonel DP Hathurusinghe was given the opportunity to perform peace keeping duties in the Haiti. For the very first time in SLEME history Captain DIS Jayasinghe SLEME Regiment took control of duties at the MINUSTAH Head Quarters in Haiti in2005.
The SLEME Regiment was material in the supply of food drinking water to refugees and in addition maintained temporary camps for the displaced persons in the South and East territories in the wake of Tsunami disaster which took place on 26th December 2004.
The wreckage of the railway carriage and engine lying in Telwatte Galle Tsunami disaster site was removed with the aid of armoured (distress) recovery vehicles belonging to the SLEME Armoured Workshop.
