Ordered by the then commander of the Army, Lieutenant General LDCE Waidyarathne ndc psc and as published by the army Routine Order 32/93, the 5th (Reinforcement) Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised on 23 August 1993. On 3 December 1993, this battalion was ceremoniously opened at Sinhavilluwatta. Puttlam as the 8th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment by hoisting it's first Commanding Officer Major EMB Peiris. 3 Officers and 138 Other Ranks from the 1st Battalion, 3 Officers and 122 Other Ranks from the 4th Battalion, 3 Officers and 131 Other Ranks from the 5th Battalion, 3 Officers and 120 Other Ranks from the 6th Battalion and 31 Other Ranks From the 7th Battalion were posted initially to from the Battalion. 7 Officers had successively commanded battalion. 10 Officers and 212 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 17 Officers and 275 Other Ranks had become differently able. The battalion is completing 19 years in the service to the nation.
A reinforcement battalion each was established in all Regimental an all Center to care and the hold the large number of battle causalities as per the Army Routine Order 32/93 as the number of causalities rapidly increased. It started on 23 August 1993 Sihavilluwatta, Puttlam by the then Regimental Commander Brigadier HSA Perera. Captain WHR Nissanka overlooked the duties of the Commanding Officer. This battalion moved out from puttlam and deployed at the Regimental Center which had shifted to Boyagane, Kurunegala. The first Commanding Officer Major HMS Herath took over command on 5 January 1999. The Battalion was renamed as the Headquarter Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 08 October 1999. The task of the battalion is to care and rehabilitate the injured troops and efficiently employ them. Therefore several projects are being maintained by the battalion.
The 9th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised on 6 September 1996 at Elephantpass. Major TM Mahindarathna become the first Commanding Officer. 12 Officer and 82 Other Ranks were posted from the Regimental Centre, 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions to raise 9th Battalion on 13 May 2000 and was de-amalgamated on 17 July 2007 and operated as an independent infantry battalion during the Humanitarian Operations. 3 Officers had successively commanded battalion. 6 Officers and 106 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 6 Officers and 460 Other Ranks had become differently able. The battalion is completing 16 years in the service to the nation.
As the first volunteer infantry Battalion to be raised under the Regimental Concept, 10th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised on 1st June 1994 at the Monkeybridge Camp at Trincomalee. 4 Officers and 150 Other Ranks came to raise battalion from 5th (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Light Infantry, 5 Officers and 150 Other Ranks from the Sri Lanka National Guards. The first Commanding Officer was Major TMN Dane, Sri Lanka Artillery. The battalion is completing 18 years in the service. 6 Officers had successively commanded battalion. 5 Officers and 36 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 4 Officers and 46 Other Ranks had become differently able.
11th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised with troops from other regular battalions and recruits from training schools at Achchuveli, Jaffana under 511 Brigade on 10 January 1997. The first Commanding Officer was Major WGMG Epa. The Battalion was amalgamated with 4th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 10 October 1990 and was de- amalgamated on 15 November 2007 at Pallaipai, Jaffna under 524 Brigade. Major NMWSB Nayakarathne RSP became the Commanding Officer. The battalion has completed 16 Years of service. 6 Officers had successively commanded the battalion. 3 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 6 Other Ranks had become differently able.
The 12th (Volunteer) Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised on 10 January 1997 with 15 Officer and 544 Other Ranks From 2nd , 3rd and 10th (Volunteer) Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, 1 Officer and 6 Other Ranks from regular Battalions. Lieutenant Colonel AMA Amaraseela RSP was the first Commanding Officer. The Battalion has completed 16 Years of service. 5 Officers had successively commanded the battalion. 27 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 5 Officers and 69 Other Ranks had become differently able.
15th (Volunteer) Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised at Sadunpara, Dehiaththakandiya on 1 December 2007 with 4 Officer and 26 Other Ranks. The first Commanding Officer Was Lieutenant Colonel PKNR Rathnasinghe. The Battalion has completed 5 Years of service. 2 Officers had successively commanded the battalion. 9 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 21 Other Ranks had become differently able.
14th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised on 8 January 2008 with 19 Officer and 558 Other Ranks From other regular Battalions with Major SJ Kariyakarawana as the first Commanding Officer. Initially it deployed at Welioya. The Battalion has completed 5 Years of service. 4 Officers had successively commanded the battalion.2 Officers and 97 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 10 Officers and 281 Other Ranks had become differently able.
16th (Volunteer) Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised at Punani on 7 July 2008. The first Commanding Officer Was Lieutenant Colonel BMRJ Bandara. The Battalion has completed 5 Years of service. The Humanitarian Operation; launched to bring peace defeating terrorism was intensive as year 2008 dawned. 18th Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was raised Mallavi, on 21 October 2008, as a part of Army’s expansion efforts. The first Officiating Commanding Officer was Major UUKL Perera psc. 3 Officers had successively commanded the battalion. One Officer and 10 Other Ranks have laid down their lives and 70 Other Ranks had become differently able.
