Under the Supervision and direction of Brigadier K.L Rasaputhra USP, a group of 24 other ranks and 51 recruits together with 01 senior Non commissioned officer were included in the restoration team at the beginning. The restored workshop commenced work on 24th January 1991which thereafter came to be known as the independent medium workshop - Udawalawa.
Since the beginning of 1990 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam(LTTE) separatists conflict escalated over again. The LTTE terrorist in violation of the cease fire agreement attacked a convoy of army vehicles on 7th July 1990 in Vauniya. Moreover they attacked a number of police stations in the northern and eastern provinces and took over 400 police officers as hostages on account of the prevalent war situation a number of organizational changes were introduced in the army. The posts of Regimental chiefs were created from Army Regimental Commanders. Brigadier B. Munasinghe was appointed as the first Regimental Commander in the SLEME Regiment. The chief field workshops in Mannar, Jaffna and Trincomalee within the North and Eastern provinces were reinforced with more EME soldiers. Separate field workshops, under the control of the Saliyapura workshop were established to assist the recently opened provincial Headquarters and platoons.
The 105 Field Workshop Saliyapura was given required resources to convert it in to a Medium Workshop considering the nature of duties being performed. Also the management of Field Workshop Ampara was handed over to senior EME Officer Task Force 3.
On the invitation of EME Senior Officer Colonel K Piyasoma and Officer Commanding the workshop, Capitan TN Jayasuriya the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 Division Major General DL Kobbekaduwa declared open the well equipped new building complex which was erected in an area comprising almost 37 acres of land adjoining the 105 Medium Workshop of the Gajaba Regiment on 14 March 1991. Subsequently toward the latter part of that year 2 battalion EME was permanently installed in the same premises. Lt Col K Piyasoma assumes duties as the first officer at the initial stage.
The recruitment of fresh tradesmen to this regiment saw a sharp improvement. The Trade school which was hitherto within a small area in Maley Street was later shifted to a site in Gannoruwa, Peradeniya where the Mechanical Workshop of the department of agriculture was situated. The primary reason for the shifting of the trade school was due to the lack of accommodation and other relevant facilities. A team under the sponsorship of Lieutenant JMJ Silva had visited Gannoruwa with the purpose of establishing the EME trade school (This fact has not been mention in the school history). The appointment of Brigadier B Munasingha USP was recorded as the first EME Officer to be promoted as Commander Logistic Command on 21st July 1991. The Sri Lanka Armoured corps was further equipped and reinforced by the addition of T 85 and T 86 Tanks; and also T 55 Armoured Vehicles towards the end of 1991. In order to provide the required repairs to this Armoured Tanks three new 1, 3 and 4 Armoured Field Workshops were created under the supervision of Officer Commanding Major TN Jayasuriya in addition to facilitate the repairing these vehicles to the 100 Field Workshop. Major TN Jayasuriya, Capitan WGC Gunarathna, Lieutenant SDSH Gamage and Lieutenant I Yakandawala were given a comprehensive training in countries such as China, Czech Republic and Pakistan.
With the operation of Balawegaya, the EME Light Aid Detachment at Vettalaikeni was relocated at Elephant Pass as a Medium Workshop. In this operation the EME soldiers ware Commanded by Major DR Mayadunne under the direction given by Major K Piyasoma a senior officer of the EME Regiment. Major K Piyasoma was the most senior EME officer operating duties in Vettalkeni area. This enabled the transfer back of the SLEME recovery vehicles and other material, from the 106 EME Workshop through the Kankesanthurai port access.
Most of the Armoured tanks became immobilized due to damage sustained in violent attacks targeting the approaching front line soldiers inflicted by enemy gun fire. Due to RPG attacks by the enemy certain Saracen and Saladin combat tanks caught fire. The task of rescuing the damaged of armoured tanks lying near the Mullayan Kovil premises was under taken by Major DR Mayadunne. He sustained injuries when he was hit by enemy gun fire while attempting to tow an armoured tank with the aid of another such tank near the Mullayan Kovil. In Appreciation of the services rendered under the circumstances he was conferred the ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ for gallantry in appreciation of his services to the nation.
After the Regiment Centre was inaugurated in the year 1992 Colonel GSM Ranathunga USP was the first Centre Commandant to assume duties. There after all administrative matters were covered by the Regimental Centre. The technical duties were performed by the Directorate of EME.
Approval was given on 20th October 1992 to organize the group of 17 officers of 2(V) SLEME and 390 ORs. The 1 Bn SLEME was started on 01.07.1992 in the same premises where the 102 central Workshop was situated. Lieutenant Colonel HMWP Bandara was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of this unit. The premises of the Ceylon Transport Board maintenance depot which was among the state properties damaged due to terrorist attacks in 1992 was later handed over to the Army. On the instructions issued by Colonel WPP Fernando psc who acted as Commander in COLOMBO and suburbs, the heavy vehicle of the EME Base Workshop situated in Colombo was subsequently shifted and installed in Katubedda on the 9th of September 1992.
Brigadier B Munasingha USP hence forth was appointed as the first Director Welfare on 15th November 1992. Meanwhile EME troops East administered under a senior EME Officer of the 3 division Batticaloa continued operations as before. The SLEME 3 unit was opened in Welikanda in an extent of land comprising of a workshop since 13th June 1993. Major ALR Wijetunga assumes duties in this unit as the first Commanding Officer.
Major TN Jayasuriya who participated in the Officer's Armoured Fighting Vehicle and Equipment Company Commander Course, held in Hyderabad, India was awarded for the very first time two Commandants' Medals due to extraordinary skills displayed at the training course.
The SLEME Ex-Servicemen Association was inaugurated on 20th February 1994 under the auspicious of Brigadier (Rtd) B MunasinghaUSP. The earlier known Katubedda Heavy Vehicle Base Workshop situated at Katubedda was destined to operate as a self accounting unit on the orders issued by Lieutenant Colonel LCW Ekanayaka as from 18 December 1994.
