A TRIBUTE TO ALL CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS WHO FELL DEFENDING OUR MOTHERLAND read more
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A defense pact was signed between Britain and Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then known)just after world war 11. At the first anniversary of our independence it was decided to raise a Ceylon Army and on 11. April 1949, legal assent was given to establish this Army .The first Commander of this Army was Brigadier Roderick Sinclair The Earl of Caithness CBE DSO. Subsequently the first Sri Lankan Commander Major-General Anton Muttukumaru OBE ED was appointed to this post.
The Volunteer force originated in 1881.The first Sri Lankan Commanding officer was appointed in 1956 and he was Colonel H.W.G.Wijekoon OBE ED.
Ceylon Rifle Corps:
One of the oldest Corps. It was founded in 1900.The Corps was reactivated in 1984 under BrigadierG.R.Jayasinghe , with the formation of two Battalions. The 2 nd Battalion was Commanded by Lt-Colonel Ranjan Wijeratne (who was in 1991 posthumously promoted to General)
The contemporary Sri Lankan Army had it’s baptism of fire in1971 when a group of Southern terrorists attempted to overthrow the elected government of the day. Although the army was then classified as a ceremonial outfit used mainly to ‘fight battles at the independence parades’ it routed the terrorists within three months and restored democracy that was temporarily taken away. In 1983 a patrol of 13 soldiers led by Lt Vaas Gunewardena became victims of the first landmine explosion in Jaffna and thereafter the entire South of the country was engulfed in a riot aimed at the Tamil population that lived there. Although countless Sinhalese assisted the unfortunate people at great risk to their lives, due to inept handling of the issue by the Government at that time many disillusioned young Tamils swelled the ranks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam. It is said that an Army has to rectify the consequences of political naivety or stupidity. This was no exception and as the Civil Police started to lose ground in the North, the Army came out of their barracks. This war was finally concluded almost 30 years later on 18/5/09. In 1984 with an inspired professional leadership under Lt-Gen Kobbekaduwa and Maj-Gen Wimalaratne and after many protracted battles, the Army cornered the LTTE leadership at Vadamarachi . Just as the Army was to deliver the coup de grace, a powerful friend intervened and the rest became history. Unfortunately for him he is now reaping the whirlwind by having sowed the wind.
Whilst all this was going, in 1988 a savage band of self appointed Deshapremies started to kill members of our Armed Forces and those that opposed their barbaric views. They never learned their lessons from a previous encounter and were soon annihilated. Under the leadership of late General Ranjan Wijeratne and the military professionalism of the Operations Combine unit they met their inevitable waterloo.
On 18/5/09 under an inspired leadership, the Army has become the first country anywhere in the world to defeat a Terrorist movement totally. With the Army capturing and annihilating the Tiger Supremo and the entire leadership of the LTTE, Sri Lanka proudly ACHIEVED a one-nation status. The Army Commander General GSC Fonseka, on assuming duties told the Nation that he would destroy the LTTE in 3 years. At that time many so-called independent media rediculed his objectlve. So called defense experts went to the extent of 'laughing' at his projected destroying of LTTE Cadres. In the end all these self appointed experts had egg all over their faces! The destruction of the LTTE came in only 2 years and 10 months.
The forces, and the Army in particular sacrificed over 6 thousand personnel dead and over 30,000 injured and approximately 5,000 permanetly disabled. It is now our duty to remember these Heroes and ensure their mostly financial and living conditions, are not compromised once the initial tidings are over.
The euphoria in the aftermath of victory is not going to be the end of Tiger ambitions, especially of the Tamil Diaspora. The Army has to continue to flush out the stragglers from the jungles to the cities and the seas. There may have to be a 'hot pursuit' policy outside our shores, as the SL Navy did in destroying the floating armory warehouses thousands of miles away. A snake is not dead unless you retrieve the body and burn it. The Army's intelligence wing now needs all possible help for information from Patriots. The battle has been won without any doubt, but winning the war is still away off. It is dangerous to be complacent. The sacrifices made by our Forces MUST NOT BE IN VAIN!
Unfortunately and completely out of the blue, a threatening situation has arisen just six months after the glorious victory. There is now a valid threat to our Motherland from traitors, turncoats and betrayers acting in Tandem with some Western Powers who were put in their place by the present leadership. In a devastating turn of events General GSC Fonseka former Commander and CDS broke into politics and is said to have made a treacherous statement that Secretary Defense had instructed field Commanders to kill surrendering Tiger leaders. Is this the attitude of one who led the Army and was considered a war Hero? In order to fulfill his LUST for political power he turned a turncoat on his Commander in Chief and his Motherland! However his selfish political ambitions were quickly destroyed by a Patriotic Nation. He is currently held in Military custody and is being court-Marshaled. His treacherous utterances has encouraged the UN Secretary General to form a team to advise him on HR matters in general but to investigate possible war crime charges against our Patriotic Forces, in particular.
If the conspirators are somehow successful, the fruits of saving our Motherland will be nullified and we will once MORE become slaves to the local traitors and their International henchmen. We are therefore issuing a call to Arms to all patriots to gather and support the Nation, to defeat this life-threatening situation to our beloved Motherland and her patriotic forces. May the Triple Gem guide us to this destination.
Today the 18th May 2010 brings us to the first Anniversary of the defeat of the LTTE. Whilst we can now go about as free Men and Women, please give a thought to the Armed Forces Personnel who sacrificed their todays for our Tomorrows. The Army has started a project called Brave Hearts to look after the severely disabled soldiers who can never go home. Please refer our Home Page as how you could contribute to wards it's success. REMEMBER YOU OWE THEM!
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