Humanitarian Operations launched on the resolute determination of saving the motherland from thirty years of brutal terrorism was on its peak at the last of year 2008. Considering this situation the new unit was constituted as 18th battalion of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment according to the army order of Director of Staff Duty P/S.B/51 on 07th October 2008.
The 18th battalion of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was established on the auspicious time of 0921 hour on 21th of October 2008 at Mallavi Central College holding GR 377487 under the order and control of O/61469 Major UUKLS Perera psc who was appointed as the officiating commanding officer of the battalion.
Initially the battalion was established with 18 Officers and 518 of other ranks. In order to establish infantry companies, 2x60 from 1 VIR , 2x60 from 5 VIR ,2x60 from 7 VIR , 2x60 from 8 VIR , 2X60 from 11 VIR and 60 from 14 VIR was attended and finally ended up with 10 officers and 360 other ranks. In addition to this 8 other ranks were granted from Regiment Head Quarters as a support company to the battalion after completing their battalion support weapon course. Also 43 other ranks were engaged in establishing the admin company of the unit and another 60 other ranks were engaged in under medical category. Also another 42 professional other ranks were transferred to the new unit from SLSC,SLA,SLE,CES,SLAOC,SLAGSC,SLEME,
SLNG in order to perform battalion admin functionalities.
After establishing the new unit, it was performing duties under 573 BDE of 57 DIV until 02nd of November 2008 and after that it was aggregated with 632 BDE of task force 3 which was afresh established on 02nd of November 2008. Just after two weeks of the establishment of the new unit, started to contribute to the continuation of humanitarian operations as a fighting battalion.
Troops of the new battalion could take control of around 2 km of area along the A 9 road between Mankulam and Iranamadu on 02/11/2008 holding GR 609451 after facing a fierce fight with terrorists while showing their competency of the battalion on the war ground.
Also troops were able to kill a suicide bomber found on newly liberated area in Panikkamkulam holding GM 608434. Suicide bomber attempted to attack a tractor traveling along A 9 road while hiding by the side. With the quick attacks from the troops on tractor suicide bomber was unable to fulfill her target and was killed by the troops.
During this period S/526016 Pte Wasantha JP departed due to a light weapon attack of terrorists on 07/12/2008 at Eranamadu area holding GR 650470. He has the honor of being first of the unit to sacrifice his life during the humanitarian operation. Also in the same day S/519516 Karunarathne RS wounded and it was recorded as the first soldier to be wounded in the unit.
By this time monsoon showers has been started over the northern parts of the island and some areas were flooded more over five feet. Despite these difficult conditions, troops performed their duty with enthusiasm while showing their competency on operations. Also unit was able to kill a group of terrorist consisting 8 members on 14/12/2008 around Iranamadu area holding GR 653549. This attack was launched by a group of troops sent out to the fore ground and there were able to take back one dead body of a terrorist, one T56 weapon, 1 Magazine, 3 grenades and a bullet proof jacket in to the front defense line. Also unit was able to attack a group of terrorist consist of 3 personals and kill one of them at internal area holding the GR 653488 , meanwhile taking over 5 weapons and other equipment.
With the proceeding of humanitarian operations, unit started its operations towards the east of kanagarayan aaru area and started travelling in parallel with old Kandy road. During this time, a fierce battle was started with terrorists on Ampakaman area. Since this was the access road for Eranamadu runaway, terrorists had consolidated security of the area with booby traps, barriers and terrorists camps. Despite, unit troops fought with courage according to the orders of commanding officer and they were able to reach close to the Eranamadu runaway by 21/12/2008. Terrorists utilized their resources in full, in order to protect their front defense line and some supporting LTTE carders were reaching for protecting their front defense line. A Coy under the leadership of O/68860 2Lt RWS Anura Kumara attacked terrorists who were reaching towards Eranamadu at grid number 672518 and killed 6 terrorists and took over 6 T56 weapons. Troops were able to demolish defense lines deployed by terrorists one by one and meanwhile during an attack from troops of C Coy they were able to demolish the second defense line of southern part of Iranamadu runaway and kill 3 terrorists and take over 3 T56 weapons, 8 grenades and radio transmission equipment on 11/01/2009. On 13/01/2009 troops were able to demolish the terrorist defense lines using the 12.7 machine guns and they were able to lift the unit flag on top of biggest run away owned to terrorists, which was Iranamadu runaway holding GR 684547. O/66791 2Lt WDN Wijesuriya and his squad entered to the runaway first and platoon under Lt YPSD Yatawara entered to the runaway from the western side.
Although terrorists exerted immense efforts to protect their high quality international standard air plane runaway, troops were able to defeat terrorists while launching fierce attacks. Here the most important point was, since troops were travelling besides the old Kandy road, troops were exposed to heavy attacks from terrorists and ultimately there were able to take over the control of Eranamadu air strip. Because of this success unit was commended by Divisional commander and brigade commander.
After taking over the air strip, unit was placed around the air strip and on 18/01/2009 three terrorists were captured along with their weapons and handed over to the 632 brigade. Also troops discovered 1 MPMG weapon, 2 T56 weapons and radio transmission equipment. With the approval of head quarters MPMG weapon was handed over the unit for temporary usage.
During this period, Division 57 troops arrived Eranamadu through northern areas and unit joined with 9 VIR under 571 brigade now the Eranamadu air strip is used by Sri Lanka Air Force.
After this 632 brigade ordered the unit to liberate the land of vishwamadukulam area. Troops had to face with various barriers and challenges due to heavy showers and lack of access roads. But under the commands of Captain H.P.S.K.P. Bandara and his team, they were able to clear an access road from Eranamadu to wishwamadu after a continuous work of two days and two nights. The access road was 5 km long and troops started their way towards wishwamadu. Due to bad weather conditions it was not wiser to travel all tractors along with this path. Therefore all the goods were loaded to a one tractor and the rest of goods were transported on shoulders of troops, which shows determination and courage of the troops.
