On 16th October 1987, Lieutenant Colonel M Jayakumar took over command of the Battalion.
With the escalation of terrorist activity in the Northern and Eastern Provinces the Battalion was deployed in Punani, Welikanda, Sinhapura, Wadumunai, Kandakadu, Ampara, Pillumelai, Mangala- Oya, Pottuvil, Komari and Arugambay.
However, with the signing of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord in 1987 the Battalion was redeployed in Anuradhapura, Maradankadewela, Eluwankulama, Palugasthurai, Pomparippu, Laxapana, Walapane, Lindula, Matale and Badulla.
With the commencement of the JVP insurrection in 1989 a number of detachments were set up in the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts.
On 21st November 1989 Major A Weerakoon took over the Command temporarily as Lieutenant Colonel M Jayakumar was appointed as the Coordinating Officer of Nuwara Eliya District.
Major DE Nagahawatte and 3 other ranks lost their lives during the period of the uprising.
In 1990, three companies moved to the northern war-torn areas. The A Company deployed in Mankulam and Kokavil, the B Company deployed at Elephant Pass and Parantan and the C Company deployed at Palali and Kankesanturei.
Lieutenant SU Aladeniya
In July 1990 the Battalion's troops deployed in Kokavil and Mankulam were completely cut off from the rest of the country as the LTTE blocked all routes leading to the said areas. The LTTE over-ran the camp at Kokavil on 11th July 1990. Lieutenant SU Aladeniya's leadership during the siege of the camp was both inspiring and exemplary thus, was awarded (posthumously) the Parama Weera Vibhusanaya (PWV).
Deputy Minister of Defence and the Commander of the Army during visits to the Battalion. In July 1990, the Battalion was placed under the command of the Divisional Command of Wanni and was deployed on the forward defence line (FDL) running from Kokeliya to Kudakachchikudiya.
Defence Minister Lalith Athulathmudali visiting the Battalion in 1987
On 1stOctober 1994 the Battalion celebrated its Silver Jubilee at Etambagaskada in Vavuniya where the Battalion was deployed at that time. On 27thMay 1997 the Battalion moved to Welioya to be part of 'Operation Jayasikurui' and was deployed on the FDL running from Nadunkerni to Otiyamale.
On 22ndSeptember 1996 Lieutenant Colonel AC Obeysekara was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Battalion On 16thJune 1998 Lieutenant Colonel RB Senanayake was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Battalion
On 29th June 1999 the Battalion took over the defence of the 'Kent Farm' area in Welioya. The LTTE's offensive against the Security Forces they code named as 'Operation Unceasing Wave(s)' forced the Battalion to fall back. In the encounter the Battalion lost (killed) four personnel. Subsequently the Battalion underwent training together with the Special Forces after which the Battalion was deployed in Wanni.
