.
In 1954 at the timewhen Sir John Kotelawala was Prime Minister, the Charley Company of the 2nd(V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry stationed at the time in Kandy was renamed 'Rajarata Rifles'. With the change of government in 1956 the new Prime Minister, of Mr. SWRD Bandaranayake instructed the Commander of the Army Major General Anton Muthukumaru to dissolve the 'Rajarata Rifles' on suspicion that its personnelhad been supportive and loyal to Sir John Kotelawala. However, later, with the involvement by the Commander of the Army, on 1stOctober 1956, the dissolved Regiment was re-formed and named the '2ndVolunteer Battalion, Ceylon Sinha Regiment'. On the day of the forming of the Battalion Lieutenant Colonel SD Ratwatte was appointed its Commanding Officer. It is believed that the name 'Sinha' was proposed by the Prime Minister himself.
In 1958 communal riots that spread all over the country called for the deployment the military to maintain law and order. The numbers available beinginsufficientthe Government decided to call into service the officers and other ranks who had been members of the 'Ruhunu Regiment' until the Regiment was disbanded in 1957. These personnel were attached to the 2nd (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and along with other troops were deployed in Jaffna, Kandy, Gampola, Matale, Balangoda, Rathnapura, Kurunegala and Nawalapitiya.
Based in Kandy, the Battalion occupied several buildings that previously had during the time of World War II been part of the British Army complex.
Building that houses the Battalion Headquarters
In 1958, the Headquarters and the Officers' Mess were shifted to the nationalized Hotel Suisse. The telephone number of the previous hotelbeing 282, the premises was also referred to as '282 Camp'. The billets housing other ranks and the Training Unit were located along Kings Street.However, with Hotel Suisse being handed over to its owner and the Battalion shifted to its previous premises while the Officers' Mess was shifted 'Mountain Airy',a bungalow in Asgiriya built by the British Army.
The Commander of the Army Major General Muthukumaru, Commanding Officer and other officers at Hotel Suisse
The Battalionconducted its training in the compound of the Haragama Estate away from the city.The Battalionconducted its training in the compound of the Haragama Estate away from the city.
Troops following training at Haragama Estate in Kandy
With the retirement of Lieutenant Colonel SD Ratwatte, Lieutenant Colonel AV Ratwatte was appointed as the Battalion's Commanding Officer.
During this period several important changes were effected to the Battalion's outlook. The Battalion's cap badge which was until then the same as the cap badge of the General Service Corps was changed and the new badge had in it a 'lion'.'Lightening Wild Hunt' was adopted as the Regiments marching music. The colour of the uniform worn by the Battalion's personnel was changed to olive green,from the commonly worn khaki.
Troops marching at the Independence Day Parade opposite Lake house in Colombo
