Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

HISTORY OF 9th VIJAYABAHU INFANTRY REGIMENT

Raising of the Battalion

Initially this Bn was raised at Elephant pass, under the Leadership of Maj T M Mahindarathna on 06th September 1996. Few years later unit was disbanded on 18th May 2000 and affiliated with 8 VIR.

On 17th July 2007, the battalion was raised again under the leadership of Maj PMRHSK Herath RSP at IRATTAPERIYAKULAM.

History in Brief

The 9th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was established on 17th July 2007 at Irattaperiyakulam Vaunia. Lieutenant Colonel PMRHSK Herath RSP was the first commanding officer of the battalion. Battalion was attached to 57, 58 and 59 divisions in various situations of the humanitarian operations.9th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment played a vital role under 57 division while liberating Kilinochchi town by over running most stronghold earth bunds of the LTTE. After that battalion was attached with the 58 division and successfully contributed for humanitarian operations until the end of war. After the war, battalion deployed at Kilinochchi area under command to 57 division.

On June 26, 2008, Bn was under commanded to the 573 Brigade and deployed the operation to capture the Chiraddikulam area. Bn managed to capture a strong LTTE camp of about 40 to 50 carders guarding Charles Anthony's Camp 54 in the Chiraddikulam area, confirming that more than 30 terrorists were killed and one soldier was lost to us.

In June 2008, Bn was with 573 Brigade under the 57 Division launched an operation to capture the Nandikadal area. 9th Bn of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment carried out their operations in well under heavy terrorist attacks. There were between 30 and 40 terrorists in the operation and 5 bodies were recovered. Four were injured and two were lost to us during the operation. The area was a stronghold of terrorist activities and the agriculturally important Pandiyakulam and Mallavi areas were also captured. It was much easier to carry out future operations in that area.

Mallavi is home to Tamil Selvan, the LTTE's political leader in. Therefore, the LTTE had protected this area with a mound of dirt and did there best to prevent troops from entering the area. The area was also a LTTE stronghold and was captured by on June 28, 2008 after destroying between 70 and 80 LTTE carders. No any military trps have entered this area on any day in the history of the war.

While operating under the 572 Brigade of the 57 Division, the unit was ordered to break through the first LTTE bunker in the Akkarayakulam area and actively contribute to the capture of the LTTE's dream city of Kilinochchi. The wall was 10 feet high and 10 feet wide, and by this time the area was covered with mud due to heavy rainfall. Acquiring this backwall was therefore an extremely difficult task. None of the forces that contributed to the operation were able to capturethis wall due to terrorist attacks and the difficulty of the area. However, on October 24, 2008, the 9th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment successfully retaliated against terrorist attack and captured the wall. 12 terrorists were killed and 11 were wounded in action, 6 were killed in action on that mission. Likewise 9 VIR able to captured other 2 walls as well.

Battalion Raising Order

CO's Message

The Beginning 9 VIR

Commanding Officer             -         Maj PMRHSK Herath RSP
Second in Command             -          Maj NAAA Nishantha RSP
Adjutant                                  -          Capt HDC Silva RSP
QM                                          -          Maj CDP Jayathilaka RWP RSP
Regimental Sergeant Major    -          WO I DRPU Dammika