Header

Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

Swift & Bold

4th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

On 1st December 1991 a function attended by Major General DL Kobbekaduwa RWP RSP was held at Pooneryn followed by the commencement of a boat transport service between Nagawaththure and Elephant Pass on 5th December 1991. On 20th February 1992 a soldier was killed and four others were reported 'missing in action' as a result of an LTTE attack at Kalmunethuduwa.

Lieutenant Colonel BBS Mendis having been nominated to follow a course of training in USA (temporarily) handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel HR Stephen on 28th February 1992. On the same day an officer and four soldiers were killed as a result of an attack by the LTTE on the defence line at Pooneryn. On 28th April 1992 with the exception of the 'D' Company all other troops were redeployed to Mandaitivu handing over the duties at Pooneryn to the troops of 4 SLLI.

On 8th August 1992 a land mine blast at Arali in Mandaitivu took the lives of Lieutenant Colonel GH Ariyarathna; a former Commanding Officer of the Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel HR Stephen; theCommanding Officer of the Battalion at the time, along with a number of Army and Navy officers as well as a soldier.

Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa with troops of the Battalion

Lieutenant Colonel BBS Mendis on return from overseas resumed duties as the Commanding Officer of the Battalion on 30th August 1992. On 16thSeptember1992 the Battalion handed over the security of Mandaitivu to the 7 SLLI and re-deployed to KKS. The 'D' Company also joined the rest of the Battalion from Pooneryn.

Weapons captured at Thoppigala

With the forming of the forming of the 8th Battalion of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 16th September 1992, 8 Officers and 186 soldiers of 'E' Company who at the time were performing duties at Ampara were released to join the new Regiment. On 18thSeptember 1992 troops of the Battalion took part in 'Operation Chathuranga' carried out at Madagal to the west of KKS.

Commander of the Army speaking to the troops of the Battalion.

After being engaged in 'Operation Seegra Gamana' conducted in Welioya from 22ndSeptember to 6th October 1992, the Battalion set up camp at the Irrigation Departments premises in Galkulama, Welioya on 15th October 1992. The forward defense line on the borders of Janakapura, Singhapura and Kalyanigama were secured by troops of the Battalion while being based at Welioya.

With the raising of the Regiments second support battalion, the 9th Battalion of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, on 27th December 1992, 4 officers and 138 other ranks from the 4 SLSR were released to join the new Battalion. The Battalion underwent Battalion Training at Maduruoya for a period of 8 days commencing 1st March 1993.