THE 1st VIJAYABAHU INFANTRY REGIMENT

HISTORY

a. Introduction. On Monday, September 26, 1988, at 7:40 a.m., the Battalion Headquarters commenced its official duties at a company belongs to the 5 GW adjacent to the Malay Street Recruitment Office. At this battalion, Lt Col J Nammuni senior officer was appointed as its first Commanding Officer and was awarded the title of Founder of the Regiment.

b. Raising order. His excellency The President of Democratic socialist Republic of Sri Lanka given the authority to raise 1 VIR as a regular battalion of Sri Lanka Army and raising instructions were published in circular G/SD/51/03 dated 14.09.1988 by the Commander of the Army lieutenant General H Wanasinghe VSV ndc.

c. Starting of duties in the battalion headquarters at Malay Street.

d. First Part I Orders of the Battalion.

e. Inauguration Ceremony at ATS-Maduruoya.

OPERATIONAL CONTRIBUTION

a. On 11.08.2006, the LTTE launched an attack on the ELATHUMADDUWAL and KILALI defenses. Enemies fired artillery and mortar shells at the forward defensive lines, breaking through several rounds and breaking through the defensive line. Troops attacked from the second defenses line and recaptured all the bunkers in the first defenses captured by the terrorists on the first night. The next day, the terrorists launched another offensive to seize the security cordon. On the same day, troops confronted the terrorists and fought to liberate the LTTE stronghold. The operation claimed 14 lives, wounded 2 civilians and wounded 44 others. The bodies of LTTE cadres who were killed in the clashes were also recovered from the area, leaving behind the following weapons and ammunition:

T56 weapons – 11.

T-56 Suyathu Weapons – 03.

40mm RPG weapon - 02 .

40mm Grenade Launcher Weapons – 01.

T-81 weapons – 07.

12.7 X 108 Weapons – 01.

ICOM Radio sets – 03.

b. On 16.08.2006, for the third time, terrorists launched a massive attack on the forward defenses, capturing several bunkers in the KILALY forward defenses later that evening. At that moment, troops of the unit, along with troops of the 5GW and 6GR, were able to retake the bunkers captured by the terrorists. Four soldiers were killed and three others wounded in the incident. One soldier was killed and two others wounded in a mortar attack carried out by LTTE terrorists on 08.09.2006 in the area where the battalion was stationed.

c. On 09.09.2006, the airmobile brigade launched an operation to capture their defenses as the number of mortar and mechanical artillery attacks by the terrorists increased day by day. . On the morning of 10.09.2006, troops were able to completely destroy the LTTE defenses and consolidate their power. 01X12 soldiers were killed in the operation. 02X39 wounded soldiers were hospitalized.

d. 1 VIR troops launched small groups from time to time to destroy the LTTE's next defensive wall. 00X10 Other ranks soldiers were wounded in these small group operations as the LTTE defenses were fortified. An operation was launched on 11.10.2006 with the assistance of armored vehicles as small groups operations were not able to achieve successful results. Troops belong to C-Coy participated in the operation with the assistance of armored vehicles on the south side of the MUHAMALAI main road. On the morning of 11.10.2006, troops advancing with the assistance of armored vehicles launched an attack on the LTTE defenses and captured the LTTE bunkers.

e. However, the troops came by armored vehicles with other troops either side to them were unable to enter the LTTE defenses due to the number of land mines and traps planted by the terrorists in the area. During the operation, 01X23 were killed and 00X02 MIA. 04X58 were injured in the incident. Due to this situation the unit faced a shortage of trained personnel.

f. Troops were deployed to secure the area from MIRISUVIL to MUHAMALAI on the A9 road. The operations carried out during this period were successful and the LTTE launched defensive operations from time to time to spoil the defenses in MUHAMALAI. During the counter attack 00X06 soldiers were KIA and 01X52 soldiers were WIA.

g. On 09.01.2008, MUHAMALAI resumed operations in the forward defenses, deploying small groups and launching rapid attacks on the enemy. Troops were able to hinder terrorist activities during the operations conducted from the beginning of the year, clearing out terrorist traps and landmines in the area and preparing the ground for future operations. Troops recovered several bodies and a large haul of LTTE weapons during these operations. During this operation 00X12 soldiers were KIA and 03X30 soldiers were WIA.

h. Later, troops of 53 Division, 5 GW, 6 GR, 1 VIR and 5 VIR, along with 55 Division troops planned to launch an attack on the LTTE forward defenses. Troops consists with SIOT conducted several days of surveillance and on 23.04.2008, the LTTE defenses were attacked and the LTTE defenses were destroyed. Troops were able to expand their defenses to a certain extent. During the operation 00X15 soldiers were KIA and 00X 31 were WIA. During the operation, a series of terrorists launched a massive offensive attack on 05.05.2008 while our soldiers were constructing a new line of bunkers on the expanded land. During this operation at least 00X03 soldiers were KIA and 02X24 soldiers were WIA.

i. Since the beginning of 2009, the operation has continued to capture the MUHAMALAI terrorist’s front line. It was also an important ground for the terrorists and they did not give up the fight. On 08.01.2009, troops launched a massive offensive attack at the MUHAMALAI Forward defenses, destroying the unprecedented MUHAMALAI Forward defensive line up to the PALLAM PALAI area. Thereafter, the operation was extended to the Elephant Pass area, and troops from the WANNI humanitarian operation retrieved the elephant pass area, hoisting the Lion flag at the Elephant Pass area and securing military victories. During this operation at least 00X04 soldiers were KIA and 01X18 soldiers were WIA.

j. The troops then flew from IRANAMADU to ODIDUSUDAN and joined the humanitarian operation in the PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU area. At least 27 soldiers including officers and other rankers were KIA in the incident, while 03X120 soldiers were in WIA. During this period, the Battalion faced a shortage of trained personnel due to injuries, deaths and disappearances due to the operations carried out by the Battalion. Accordingly, a large number of soldiers and trainee soldiers from other battalions were recruited into the battalion. Carrying out the heavy task of assigning new members to the battalion was not an easy task.

k. Troops were fortunate to be able to contribute to the end of the brutal 30 - year LTTE war. Despite the casualties and injuries sustained by the trained soldiers, the remaining soldiers bravely continued their duty and kept the reputation of the battalion afloat. As a result, Weera Wikrama Vibhushana - 07 X17, Rana Wikrama Padakkama- 12X65 and Rana Shoora Padakkama - 09X106 were recommended for the officers and other rankers who acted with great dedication to make the previous operations a great success.

ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE PAST EEELAM WAR

a. Capturing of Muhamalei.

b. S/514566 L/Cpl Thennakoon TMS Joined to the Battalion after escaping from the terrorists.

c. Releasing civilians from terrorists and taking them to army control areas.

d. Joining with the airmobile brigade and following the airmobile course by the entire battalion.

FORMER COMMANDING OFFICERS

SECOND IN COMMANDS OF THE BATTALION.

ADJUTANTS OF THE BATTALION

FORMER REGIMENT SERGEANT MAJORS

Ser	SVC No	Rank	Name	From	To
1	S/500001	WO I	MP Munaweera	14.11.1988	01.11.1990
2	S/500004	WO I	PH Karunarathne	10.06.1991	24.10.1994
3	S/500003	WO I	BA Somasiri	01.01.1995	15.04.1996
4	S/500032	WO I	MP Lal	16.04.1996	01.04.1997
5	S/500044	WO I	GN De Silva	02.04.1997	08.06.1999
6	S/500060	WO I	N Charles	05.12.2001	30.04.2006
7	S/500152	WO I	WMN Premasiri	01.05.2006	01.06.2007
8	S/501102	WO I	TH Nimalarathne	02.06.2007	01.01.2008
9	S/502828	WO I	HMTL Senarathne	02.01.2008	22.07.2009
10	S/500554	WO I	UM Arunashantha	23.07.2009	12.05.2010
11	S/503710	WO I	KDA kulathunge RWP	01.06.2010	03.05.2011
12	S/502147	WO I	G Nimal	03.05.2011	01.11.2012
13	S/505276	WO I	HAS Priyantha RSP USP	01.11.2012	31.03.2014
14	S/502275	WO I	SM Wasantha Tilakarathne	31.03.2014	30.09.2015
15	S/508758	WO I	GG Sarath kumara RWP	01.10.2015	01.01.2017
16	S/513335	WO I	WLS Perera RSP USP	01.01.2017	31.01.2019
17	S/513406	WO I	YMWLY Bandara RSP USP	01.02.2019	20.11.2019
18	S/514554	WO I	DM Senarath Bandara RWP RSP	21.11.2019	19.11.2021
19	S/514485	WO II	Rohana DMN RSP USP	20.11.2021	Up to date

ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPORTS

a. 1VIR became the champions of Inter battalion sports meet which was conducted for the 15th anniversary of the Regiment.

b. The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Inter battalion Athletics Championship 2011 was held at Maligawatte Stadium, KURUNEGALA. Accordingly, this battalian became the winning squad for the 2011 Inter Unit Athletics Championships