View source for Sri Lanka Army

{{Short description|Land force branch of the Sri Lankan armed forces}}
{{Use Sri Lankan English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Sri Lanka Army
| native_name                   = {{nativename|si|ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව}}<br />{{nativename|ta|இலங்கை இராணுவம்}}
| image                         = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png
| image_size                    = 180px
| caption                       = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army
| start_date                    = 1881
| dates                         = 
| country                       = {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka]]
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Army]]
| role                          = [[Land warfare]]
| size                          = 150,000 personnel<ref name="downsize"/>
| command_structure             = [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]], [[Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| colors                        = Gold, blue and orange <br /> {{color box|Gold}}{{color box|Darkblue}}{{color box|Orange}}
| colors_label                  = Colours
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = [[Second Boer War]]<br />[[World War I]]<br />
{{tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Easter Sunday Raid]]
**[[Cocos Islands mutiny]]{{tree list/end}}<br />[[1971 JVP Insurrection]]<br />[[1987–89 JVP Insurrection]]<br />[[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]]
| anniversaries                 = [[Army Day]]: 10 October<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themorning.lk/sl-celebrates-70th-army-day/|title=SL celebrates 70th Army Day|website=themorning.lk|date=10 October 2019|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418004220/https://www.themorning.lk/sl-celebrates-70th-army-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| motto                         = {{langx|la|[[Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori|Pro Patria]]}} <br /> "For the Fatherland"
| decorations                   = ''[[Military awards and decorations of Sri Lanka]]''
| battle_honours                = 
| disbanded                     = 
| website                       = {{URL|www.army.lk}}<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = [[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]] ([[President of Sri Lanka]])
| commander1_label              = [[Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces|Commander-in-Chief]]
| commander2                    = [[Lieutenant General (Sri Lanka)|Lieutenant General]] [[Lasantha Rodrigo (General)|Lasantha Rodrigo]]
| commander2_label              = [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Army]]
| commander3                    = [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] Chandana Wickramasinghe
| commander3_label              = [[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff of the Army]]
| commander4                    = [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] Lanka Amarapala
| commander4_label              = [[Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army]]
| notable_commanders            = * [[Field Marshal (Sri Lanka)|Field Marshal]] [[Sarath Fonseka]]
* [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] [[Sepala Attygalle]]
* [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] [[Hamilton Wanasinghe]]
* [[Major-general (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] [[Bertram Heyn]]
* [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] [[Anton Muttukumaru]]
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = [[File:Flag of the Sri Lankan Army.png|200px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Flag
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Sri Lankan Army Flag.svg|200px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Presidential Colour
| identification_symbol_3       = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4       = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_helicopter           = 
| aircraft_helicopter_attack    = 
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo     = 
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = 
| aircraft_helicopter_observation = 
| aircraft_helicopter_transport = 
| aircraft_helicopter_utility   = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
| aircraft_transport            = 
}}
{{Sri Lanka Army}}

The '''Sri Lanka Army''' ({{langx|si|ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව|Śrī Laṃkā yuddha hamudāva}}; {{langx|ta|இலங்கை இராணுவம்|Ilankai iraṇuvam}}) is the oldest and largest of the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]]. The army was officially established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, though the army traces its roots back in 1881 when [[Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers]] was created; the army was renamed as the 'Sri Lanka Army' when Sri Lanka became a [[republic]] in 1972. In 2024, the Army had approximately 150,000 personnel.<ref name="downsize"/><ref name=":2">The Military Balance 2024, p. 313</ref>

The [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]] is situated in [[Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte]]; [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Army]] is the highest appointment in the army who commands the army and is assisted by the [[Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]] and [[Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Mahesh-Senanayaka-new-Army-Commander/108-132121|title=Mahesh Senanayaka new Army Commander|website=www.dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 May 2020|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152300/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Mahesh-Senanayaka-new-Army-Commander/108-132121|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Lieutenant%20General%20Mahesh_Senanayake_appointed_as_new_Army_Commander_20170704_01 |title=Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake appointed as new Army Commander |website=www.defence.lk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704073454/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Lieutenant%20General%20Mahesh_Senanayake_appointed_as_new_Army_Commander_20170704_01 |archive-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> The [[Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces|Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] is the [[President of Sri Lanka]], who heads the [[National Security Council (Sri Lanka)|National Security Council]] through the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Defence]], which is charged with formulating, executing defence policy and procurements for the armed forces.<ref>{{cite news | title=Commander-in-Chief Completes One Year in Office | date=2007-03-08 | publisher=Media Centre for National Security | url =http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/articles/commander-in-chief.html?PHPSESSID=8a9729bc19d560d81319bc8bee3f380a | access-date = 2007-04-20 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20070928111958/http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/articles/commander-in-chief.html?PHPSESSID=8a9729bc19d560d81319bc8bee3f380a <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-28}}</ref>

==Background==
===Pre Anuradhapura period to the Transitional period===
Repeated incursions by South Indians, particularly the [[Chola]]s, into Sri Lankan territory occurred throughout the next few centuries and led to the engagement of the rival forces in battle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/history2.php |title=Sri Lanka Army History, The Ancient Time |access-date=2007-02-04  |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202064404/http://www.army.lk/history2.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-02}}</ref> In one famous encounter, Sinhalese King [[Dutugamunu]] (161–37 BC) raised an army of eleven thousand in his battle against the Chola invader [[Elara (King)|Elara]], whom he eventually defeated. Dutugemunu's organisational skills, bravery and chivalry are famous and his battles have gone down in history as outstanding offensive operations.<ref name="SLABOOK">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka
|title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 Years On" – 1949–1999'' |edition=1st |date=October 1999 |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |isbn=978-955-8089-02-6
|pages=1–3 |chapter=Chapter 1 }}</ref>

Other Sri Lankan [[List of Sri Lankan monarchs|monarchs]] whose military achievements stand out include [[Gajabahu I of Anuradhapura|Gajabahu I]] (113–35), who sailed to India to bring back his captured soldiers, and [[Dhatusena of Anuradhapura|Dhatusena]] (455–73) who is credited with repulsing numerous Indian invasions and for organising a naval build-up to deter seaborne attacks. He also had the foresight to cover his defences with [[artillery]]. [[Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa|Vijayabahu I]] (1055–1110) was another warrior king who dislodged Indian invaders and united the country. [[Parakramabahu I|Parakramabahu the Great]] (1153–1186) was an outstanding monarch of the [[Polonnaruwa period]], and his accomplishments as a military leader and a great administrator are noteworthy. His reign included a military expedition to [[Myanmar|Burma]] in retaliation for indignities inflicted on his envoys and Burmese interference in the elephant trade. This marked the first overseas expedition in Sri Lankan military history. It is also reported that Parakramabahu's fame was such that his assistance was sought by South Indian rulers who were involved in internecine struggles. Another strong ruler in the [[Transitional period of Sri Lanka]] was [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parakramabahu VI]], who defeated Indian invaders, united the island and ruled it from capital [[Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte|Kotte]].<ref name="SLABOOK"/> Although the known [[Epigraph (literature)|epigraphical]] records do not indicate that the Sri Lankan rulers had a full-time [[standing army]] at their disposal, there is evidence supported by legend, designation, name, place and tradition that prove there were 'stand-by' [[Equestrianism|equestrian]], [[elephant]], and [[infantry]] divisions to ensure royal authority at all times. [[Militias]] were raised as the necessity arose, and the soldiers returned to their pursuits, mainly for farming, after their spell of military duty.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

===Transitional period===
[[File:Codice Casanatense Sinhalese Warriors.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Portuguese illustration of Sinhalese warriors, produced {{circa|1540}}]]

Parts of [[Sri Lanka]] came under the control of three colonial European powers, namely the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] in the 16th century, the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] in the 17th century and the [[British Empire|British]] in the 18th century. Yet, until the entire island was ceded to the British in 1815, regional kingdoms maintained most of their independent defence forces and were able to successfully repulse repeated thrusts by the European armies. However the British, unlike their counterparts, were not primarily restricted to maritime power, and thus had the capability to bring the entire island under their control and to integrate locals into the British defence forces.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

At the beginning of the 16th century, modern Europe first came in contact with Sri Lanka. In 1505 a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] fleet, while operating in the Indian seas against Arab traders, was blown off course and landed at [[Galle]], on the southern coast of the island.<ref name="lklib-port">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/portu2.htm |title=The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505–1658) |access-date=2004-06-30 |work=WWW Virtual Library – Sri Lanka |archive-date=4 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204062550/http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/portu2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1517 the Portuguese re-appeared, and with the consent of the Sinhalese King established a trading post in [[Colombo]]. Having initiated contact with [[Sri Lanka]] as traders, the Portuguese soon made themselves political masters of the western seaboard. Numerous forts were soon established, and features of [[Western culture|European civilisation]] was introduced.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

The Portuguese are credited with the introduction of European-style [[fortresses]] to Sri Lanka during this era. Although some locals already possessed military training and fighting experience, there is no evidence that the Portuguese employed local inhabitants into their own forces. Thus the Portuguese were forced to restrict their presence in the island due to their small numbers and their efforts were more focused toward projecting maritime power.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

In 1602 [[Netherlands|Dutch]] explorers first landed in Sri Lanka. By 1658 they had completely ousted the Portuguese from the coastal regions of the island. Much like the [[Portugal|Portuguese]], they did not employ locals in their military and preferred to live in isolation, pursuing their interests in trade and commerce. Like the Portuguese, they defended their [[forts]] with their own forces, but unlike the Portuguese, Dutch forces employed [[Switzerland|Swiss]] and [[Malay race|Malay]] [[mercenaries]]. The Dutch Forts in [[Jaffna fort|Jaffna]], [[Galle fort|Galle]], [[Matara fort|Matara]], [[Batticaloa fort|Batticaloa]] and [[Koddiyar fort|Trincomalee]] were sturdily built and are considered a tribute to their military engineering skills. Also, like the Portuguese, the Dutch focussed on maritime power and although they had the capability to develop and use local forces, they chose to isolate themselves from the local population.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

===Kandyan period===
The [[British Empire]] then ousted the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] from the coastal areas of the country, and sought to conquer the independent [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandyan Kingdom]]. In the face of repeated British assaults, the Kandyans were forced into a degree of [[guerilla warfare]] and fared well against their superior British adversaries.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

Initially the British stationed their forces, which included naval vessels, artillery troops and infantry, to defend the island nation from other foreign powers, using the natural harbor of Trincomalee as their headquarters in Sri Lanka. In 1796, the Swiss and Malay mercenaries who were previously in the service of the Dutch were transferred to the [[British East India Company]]. While the Swiss [[Regiment de Meuron]] left in 1806 and was eventually disbanded in Canada in 1822, the Malays, who initially formed a [[Sri Lankan Malays|Malay Corps]], were converted into the [[Ceylon Defence Force|1st Ceylon Regiment]] in 1802 and placed under a British commanding officer. In the same year, the British became the first foreign power to raise a [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] unit, which was named the [[Ceylon Defence Force|2nd Ceylon Regiment]], also known as the [[Sepoy|Sepoy Corps]].<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

In 1803 the [[Ceylon Defence Force|3rd Ceylon Regiment]] was created with [[Maluku Islands|Moluccans]] and recruits from [[Penang]]. All these regiments fought alongside British troops in the [[Kandyan Wars]] which began in 1803. Throughout the following years, more [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] and Malays were recruited to these regiments, and in 1814 the 4th Regiment was raised, which was composed entirely of [[Ethnic groups of Africa|African]] troops. It was later renamed as the [[Ceylon Rifle Regiment]]. Eventually, the [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandyan Kingdom]] was ceded to the British in 1815, and with that they gained control over the whole island. [[Resistance movements|Resistance]] to British occupation cropped up almost instantly. During the first half-century of occupation, the British faced a number of uprisings, and were forced to maintain a sizable army in order to guarantee their control over the island. After the [[Matale Rebellion]] led by [[Puran Appu]] in 1848, in which a number of Sinhalese recruits defected to the side of the rebels, the recruitment of Sinhalese to the British forces was temporarily halted.<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

==History==
===Ceylon Volunteers===
On 1 April 1881 by a proclamation issued by the [[Governor of Ceylon]], a [[Volunteer Force]] was raised in Ceylon. It was designated the [[Ceylon Light Infantry|Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers]] (CLIV) in an attempt to compensated for the disbandment of the [[Ceylon Rifle Regiment]] in 1874. The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was originally administered as a single regiment. However, over the years various sections of the volunteers grew large enough to become independent regiments. The different units that emerged from the Volunteer Force were the

* [[Cadet Battalion Ceylon Light Infantry]]
* [[Ceylon Artillery Volunteers]]
* [[Ceylon Engineers]]
* [[Ceylon Mounted Infantry]] (CMI)
* [[Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps]] (CPRC)<ref name="SLABOOK"/>
* [[Ceylon Supply & Transport Corps]]
* [[Ceylon Volunteer Medical Corps]]

These volunteers saw active service when a contingent of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI) in 1900, and a contingent of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps (CPRC) in 1902, took part in the [[Second Boer War]] in [[South Africa]]. Their services were recognised by the presentation in 1902 of a [[Colours, standards and guidons|colour]] to the CMI, and a presentation in 1904 of a [[banner]] to the CPRC.

===Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910===
{{main|Ceylon Defence Force}}
[[File:PM visits the 1st Bn CLI.jpg|thumb|right|250px|First Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka [[D. S. Senanayake]] visiting the 1st battalion of the CLI at the Echelon Square and watching volunteers being trained to handle [[light machine gun]]s.]]

In 1910, with the enactment of the Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance No. 8 of 1910, the [[Ceylon Defence Force]] (CDF) was formed bring under it all volunteer units for administrative, training and logistics purposes. It continued to grow throughout the early period of the 20th century.

During the [[First World War]], many volunteers from the Defence Force travelled to [[Great Britain]] and joined the [[British Army]], and many of them were killed in action. One of them mentioned by [[Sir]] [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] was [[Private (rank)|Private]] Jacotine of the CLI, who was the last man left alive in his unit at the [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Battle of Lys]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Doyle, Arthur Conan|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/865473156|title=The Great War : the British campaign in France and Flanders|volume =1|date=2014|isbn=978-1-78394-624-2|location=London|oclc=865473156|access-date=4 July 2020|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704041706/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/865473156|url-status=live}}</ref> and who continued to fight for 20 minutes before he was killed.<ref name="indias-sla">{{cite web |url=http://www.indias.com/php/wiki-Sri_Lankan_Army |title=Indias.com, Sri Lankan Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Indias |archive-date=22 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322090140/http://www.indias.com/php/wiki-Sri_Lankan_Army |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1922, the CDF was honoured by the presentation of the [[Regimental Colour|King's and Regimental colours]] to the [[Ceylon Light Infantry]] (CLI).<ref name="SLABOOK"/>

In 1939, the CDF was mobilised and an enormous expansion took place which required the raising of new units such as the [[Sri Lanka Signals Corps|Ceylon Signals Corps]], the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service|Auxiliary Territorial Service (Ceylon)]] and also the [[Colombo Town Guard]], which had been previously disbanded, but was later re-formed to meet military requirements. During the [[Second World War]], Britain assumed direct control over the Armed Forces of Ceylon.<ref name="SLALIR1">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=History of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060708103051/http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-07-08}}</ref> At the end of [[World War II]], CDF which had increased in size during the war began demobilisation.

===Army Act No. 17 of 1949===
[[File:SLA-50.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Brigadier]] [[Roderick Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness|James Sinclair]], [[Earl of Caithness]] inspecting a guard of honour wearing [[khaki drill]].]]
In 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain, becoming a Dominion within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and a year earlier Ceylon entered into the bi-lateral Anglo-Ceylonese Defence Agreement of 1947. This was followed by the Army Act No. 17 of 1949 which was passed by [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|Parliament]] on April 11, 1949, and formalised in Gazette Extraordinary No. 10028 of October 10, 1949 marked the creation of the Ceylon Army, consisting of a regular and a volunteer force, the later being the successor of the disbanded CDF.<ref name="SLA ES1">{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/org.php |title= Establishment, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060326024640/http://www.army.lk/org.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-03-26}}</ref><ref name="SLA form">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051009/plus/1.html|title=Sergei de Silva-Ranasinghe looks back at the early days of the Sri Lanka Army|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120636/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051009/plus/1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, October 10, 1949, is considered the day the Ceylon Army was raised, and as such October 10 is celebrated annually as Army Day. [[Brigadier]] [[Roderick Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness|James Sinclair]], [[Earl of Caithness]] was appointed as Commandant of the Ceylon Army. The Defence Agreement of 1947 provided the assurance that British would come to the aid of Ceylon in the event it was attacked by a foreign power and provided British military advisers to build up the country's military. In November, a Ceylon Army Guard takes over duties at [[Echelon Barracks]] from the Guard of the [[British Army]].<ref>{{cite book |title=1950 Fergusons Ceylon Directory |publisher=Fergusons |location=Colombo}}{{page needed|date=November 2024}}</ref>

The [[Army Headquarters, Ceylon]] was established in Colombo, with a [[general staff|General Staff Branch]], an [[Adjutant General|Adjutant General Branch]], a [[Quartermaster General|Quartermaster General Branch]] and a Pay and Records Branch. Soon after the [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force|Headquarters, Ceylon Volunteer Force]] was established. The initial requirement was to raise an artillery regiment, an engineer squadron, an infantry battalion, a medical unit, and a service corps company. For much of the 1950s the army was preoccupied with the task of building itself and training existing and new personnel. To this aim the British Army Training Team (BATT) advisory group carried out training for ex-members of the CDF within the Ceylon Army, [[Field officer|field rank officer]]s were sent to the British Army [[Staff College, Camberley]] and some attached to units of the [[British Army of the Rhine]] to gain field experience. Newly recruited officer cadets were sent for training at [[Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]], stating with 10 officer cadets in 1950, which continued until the 1968 and both officers and other ranks were sent to specialist training courses in Britain, India, Pakistan and Malaya. There were no formations and all units were structured to directly function under the Army Headquarters. However temporary field headquarters were to be formed at the time requirement arose.<ref name="SLA form"/>

Due to a lack of any major external threats, the growth of the army was slow, and the primary duties of the army quickly moved towards internal security by the mid-1950s, the same time as the first Ceylonese Army Commander [[Major General]] [[Anton Muttukumaru]] took command of the army. The first internal security operation of the Ceylon Army began in 1952, code named ''[[Operation Monty]]'' to counter the influx of illegal South Indian immigrants brought in by smugglers on the north-western coast, in support of [[Royal Ceylon Navy]] coastal patrols and police operations. This was expanded and renamed as [[Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration]] (TaFII) in 1963 and continued up to 1981 when it was disbanded. The Army was mobilised to help the police to restore peace under provincial emergency regulations during the [[Hartal 1953|1953 hartal]], the [[1956 Ceylonese riots|1956 Gal Oya Valley riots]] and in 1958 it was deployed for the first time under emergency regulations throughout the island during the [[Sri Lankan riots of 1958|1958 Riots]].<ref name="SLA form2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051016/plus/4.html|title=An evolving army and its role through time, Sergei de Silva- Ranasinghe's article on the early days of the Sri Lanka Army|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120639/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/051016/plus/4.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 1950s and 1960s the army was called upon to carry to essential services when the workers went on strike which were organised by the left-wing parties and trade unions for various reasons, the most notable was the 1961 Colombo Port strike, during which ships threatened to bypass Colombo port and the country almost starved. To counter these common strikes several units were formed, who were employed in development work when there were no strikes. New regiments were formed, which included the [[Sri Lanka Armoured Corps|Ceylon Armoured Corps]], [[Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment|Ceylon Sinha Regiment]] and the [[Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps|Ceylon Pioneer Corps]].<ref name="SLA form2"/>

In 1962 several senior officers [[Attempted military coup in Ceylon, 1962|attempted a military coup]], which was stopped hours before it was launched. Thereafter the government mistrusted the military and reduced the size and growth of the army, especially the volunteer force, disbanding several units and forming the [[Gemunu Watch]].

[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0145.jpg|thumb|250px|Sri Lanka Army flags]]

In 1971, the Army found itself facing a full blown [[insurgency]], when the [[1971 JVP insurrection|JVP Insurrection]] broke out in April 1971. Having been caught by surprise, as a result of failure to comprehend the magnitude of the insurgency from intelligence reports. Although completely ill-prepared to deal with an insurgency, lacking weapons, ammunition, equipment and training; the army responded quickly and successfully defeated the insurgency by the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] by mid 1971.

In May 1972, when Ceylon was proclaimed a republic and changed its name from the Dominion of Ceylon to the Republic of Sri Lanka, all Army units were renamed accordingly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991010/aponline085414_000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110101147/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991010/aponline085414_000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2012|title=Sri Lanka Army Marks 50 Years|publisher=Washingtonpost, AP News|date=October 10, 1999}}</ref>

By the late 1970s the army was confronted with a new conflict, this time with [[Tamil militant groups]] in the north of the island. The [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) emerged as the prominent of these Tamil militant groups. The war escalated to the point where India intervened as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. This led to a [[1987–1989 JVP insurrection|second insurgency by the JVP]], forcing the army to deploy its forces in the south of the island and to fight on two fronts between 1987 and 1989. The 1980s saw a massive expiation of the army from 15,000 personal to over 30,000 and more. New regiments were raised, while others were expanded with new battalions. New weapons and equipment were introduced as the war shifted from [[counter-insurgency]] to [[conventional warfare]] tactics, with multi [[battalion]], [[brigade]] and [[Division (military)|division]] scale operations. New regiments were formed which included the [[Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment|Commando Regiment]], [[Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment|Special Forces Regiment]], [[Mechanized Infantry Regiment]], [[Gajaba Regiment]], [[Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment]], [[Military Intelligence Corps (Sri Lanka)|Military Intelligence Corps]], [[Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps]], [[Sri Lanka Rifle Corps]] and the [[Sri Lanka National Guard]].

The war with the LTTE was halted several times for peace negotiations, the last of which following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the Army has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.

Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually led to the recapture of [[Jaffna]] and other rebel strongholds. On 19 May 2009 Sri Lankan army declare the victory of war as they found the dead body of LTTE leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]]. This marked the end of the war, with the LTTE ceasing to exist in Sri Lanka as a result of prolonged military offensives conducted by Sri Lanka army.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0517/p90s01-wosc.html Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731234737/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0517/p90s01-wosc.html |date=31 July 2009 }} Christian Science Monitor – May 17, 2009</ref> The Sri Lankan Armed Forces, including the army, have been accused of committing [[Alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War|war crimes]] during the war, particularly during the final stages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajapaksa vows to shield his army from international probe|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/rajapaksa-vows-to-shield-his-army-from-international-probe/|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=27 May 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208053041/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/rajapaksa-vows-to-shield-his-army-from-international-probe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan army agrees to probe war crimes|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/9084403/Sri-Lankan-army-agrees-to-probe-war-crimes.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/9084403/Sri-Lankan-army-agrees-to-probe-war-crimes.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=15 February 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A [[Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka|panel of experts]] appointed by [[UN Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] to advise him on the issue of [[accountability]] with regard to any alleged violations of [[International human rights law|international human rights]] and [[International humanitarian law|humanitarian law]] during the final stages of the civil war found "credible allegations" which, if proven, indicated that [[war crimes]] and [[crimes against humanity]] were committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Tamil Tigers.<ref name=Island160411>{{cite news|title=Report of the UNSG's panel of experts on accountability in SL|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|newspaper=The Island, Sri Lanka|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423032125/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=TN160411>{{cite news|title=UN panel admits international failure in Vanni war, calls for investigations|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418010427/http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DM160411>{{cite news|title=Summary of UN Panel report|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|newspaper=[[Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=19 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419065233/http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Deployments==
[[File:Military gathering Galle Face Green.jpg|thumb|250px|Military gathering on [[Galle Face Green]] in [[Colombo]]]]

As of present, the bulk of the Sri Lankan Army is deployed for domestic defensive and combat operations, while a sizable foreign deployment is maintained.

===Domestic===
Due to the [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]] the army has been on a constant mobilized (including [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force|volunteers]]) state since the 1980s. The majority of the army has been deployed in the North and Eastern provinces of the country, which includes 14 [[Division (military)|Divisions]] coming under six operational headquarters and 2 independent Divisions and several independent [[Brigade]]s. The army is also based in other parts of the island for internal security including a Division for the defence of the capital.

===Foreign===
The Sri Lanka Army currently participates in several major overseas deployments:

*[[Lebanon]] – a [[mechanized infantry]] [[Company (military unit)|company]] with combat support personal in the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]] since November 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=11739|title=The Island|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206201129/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=11739|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[South Sudan]] – Sri Lanka Army's entry into South Sudan in 2014 as the newest member in the UN peace keeping family, marks a milestone in the Army history. Sri Lanka became the first country to deploy a surge contingent in South Sudan.Army maintains a SRIMED Level 2 Hospital, manned entirely by Sri Lanka's [[Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps]] personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Armys_UN_Peace_Keeping_mission_opens_20140808_05|title=Army's UN Peace-Keeping mission opens a new Hospital in South Sudan|access-date=20 August 2014|archive-date=22 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822052620/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Armys_UN_Peace_Keeping_mission_opens_20140808_05|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SL Army opens new hospital in South Sudan under UN Mission – South Sudan|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/sl-army-opens-new-hospital-south-sudan-under-un-mission|access-date=2020-07-04|website=ReliefWeb|date=13 August 2014|language=en|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704152627/https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/sl-army-opens-new-hospital-south-sudan-under-un-mission|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Mali]] – an [[infantry]] [[battalion]] with support personal that has been deployed as part of the [[United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali]] in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160904/news/sl-army-contingent-invited-for-un-peacekeeping-in-mali-207666.html|title=SL Army contingent invited for UN Peacekeeping in Mali &#124; The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=4 September 2016|archive-date=3 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903231859/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160904/news/sl-army-contingent-invited-for-un-peacekeeping-in-mali-207666.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Peacekeeping===
The Sri Lanka Army has taken part in two [[peacekeeping]] missions with [[United Nations]] over the course of its history. First assignment was in the [[Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)|Congo]] ([[United Nations Operation in the Congo|ONUC]]) (1960–1963). Most recently, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002, Sri Lankan forces were invited by the United Nations to be part of the [[United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti|UN peacekeeping force]] in [[Haiti]]. In the process of the peacekeeping operations, two soldiers were killed in a raid in Petit-Goave.<ref name="sdut-3/21/05">{{cite news|url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050321/news_1n21world.html|title = 2 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Haiti fighting|work = San Diego Union Tribune|date = March 21, 2005|access-date = 13 March 2007|archive-date = 4 February 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090204024436/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050321/news_1n21world.html|url-status = live}}</ref> After over 6 months of service, the first contingent of the peacekeeping force returned to Sri Lanka on May 17, 2005.<ref name="lightinf">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php |title=Sri Lanka Light Infantry UN Peacekeeping Operations |access-date=2007-03-16 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070204125105/http://www.army.lk/lightinfan.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-04}}</ref> In December 2007, 7th rotation of the Sri Lankan contingent had been deployed with a force of 991 officers and other ranks, many of those deployed have been awarded the [[United Nations Medal]] for their services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/02/news13.asp|title=Sri Lankan troops in Haiti honoured|access-date=2 April 2008|archive-date=5 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405180218/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/02/news13.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2007, 114 members of the 950 member Sri Lankan Army peacekeeping mission in Haiti was accused of [[Sexual abuse scandal in Haiti|sexual misconduct and abuse]]<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-fg-haitisex15-story.html |title=U.N. confronts another sex scandal |access-date=2008-11-07 |date=2007-12-15 |journal=Los Angeles Times |first=Carol J. |last=Williams |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152253/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-fg-haitisex15-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC2">{{cite news | title=Sri Lanka to probe UN sex claims | date=2007-11-03 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7076284.stm | work=BBC | access-date=2007-11-05 | archive-date=4 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104190802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7076284.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> which resulted in 108 members, including three officers, being sent back after being implicated in alleged misconduct and sexual abuse where sex was exchanged for money and valuable items, with some acts considered rape as they involved those under 18.<ref name="un.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=24514|title=Haiti: Over 100 Sri Lankan blue helmets repatriated on disciplinary grounds – UN|date=2007-11-02|work=United Nations|access-date=2007-11-04|archive-date=1 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201145720/http://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=24514|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC2" /><ref>{{cite news | first=B. Muralidhar | last=Reddy | title= Part of Sri Lankan contingent in Haiti to be sent back | date=2007-11-05 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071106051401/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =2007-11-06 | work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date = 2007-11-05 }}</ref><ref name="UN3">{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080330/News/news0015.html |title=UN confirms sex charges |access-date=2008-03-30 |date=2008-03-30 |work=Sundaytimes |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061411/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080330/News/news0015.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2019, a Sri Lankan army officer and trooper on [[United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|peace keeping duty in Mali]] were killed and three more wounded when their convoy came under an [[Improvised Explosive Device|IED]] attack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/SL-army-contingent-attacked-in-Mali-Two-killed-three-injured-/108-161558|title=SL army contingent attacked in Mali; Two killed, three injured|website=www.dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 May 2020|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152304/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/SL-army-contingent-attacked-in-Mali-Two-killed-three-injured-/108-161558|url-status=live}}</ref> The incident prompted the army to accelerate its [[Avalon MPV|Avalon program]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|title=New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME &#124; The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331053906/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sri Lanka Army's newest contingent of 243 professionally-trained Army personnel in the Combat Convoy Company (CCC), well-prepared to serve in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) left the island on 21 April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/04/21/another-army-contingent-leaves-for-mali-on-peacekeeping-mission/|title = Another Army contingent leaves for Mali on peacekeeping mission|date = 21 April 2021|access-date = 30 April 2021|archive-date = 26 September 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152255/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/04/21/another-army-contingent-leaves-for-mali-on-peacekeeping-mission/|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Organization structure==
The professional head of the army is the [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Army]]. He is assisted by the [[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army]] and a [[Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Deputy Chief of Staff]]. The [[Commandant of the Volunteer Force]] is head of the [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force|Army Volunteer Force]] and is responsible for the administration and recruitment of all reserve units and personal. The [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]], housed in the [[Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Lanka|Defence Headquarters Complex]] in [[Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte]] is the main administrative and the operational [[headquarters]] of the Sri Lanka Army.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Army Establishment {{!}} Sri Lanka Army {{!}} Organization structure|url=https://www.army.lk/establishment|access-date=2020-07-04|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602124301/https://www.army.lk/establishment|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Administrative===
The [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]] is divided into a number of branches, namely the [[General Staff]] (GS) branch responsible for coordination of operations and training and the [[Adjutant General#Sri Lanka|Adjutant General]]'s (AGs) branch responsible for personal administration, welfare, medical services, and rehabilitation. The [[Quartermaster general#Sri Lanka|Quarter Master General]]'s (QMGs) branch is responsible for feeding, transport, movement, and construction and maintenance. The [[Master-General of the Ordnance (Sri Lanka)|Master General of Ordnance]]'s (MGOs) branch is responsible for procurement and maintenance of vehicles and special equipment.<ref name="IPCS">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Sri%20Lanka |title=Military Balance, Sri Lanka |access-date=2007-03-14 |work=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061002155351/http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Sri+Lanka <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-10-02}}</ref> The [[Military Secretary (Sri Lanka)|Military Secretary]]'s Branch is responsible for handling all matters pertaining to officers such as [[Promotion (rank)|promotions]], postings and [[discipline]]. Each branch is headed by an officer in the rank of [[Major General]] who is directly responsible to the Commander of the Army for the smooth functioning of the Branch. Under each Branch, there are several Directorates, each headed by a [[Brigadier]].<ref name="IPCS"/>

The headquarters of field formations each have its own staff. For instance a divisional headquarters is divided into a GS branch as an AQ branch, each headed by a [[Colonel (Sri Lanka)|Colonel]] and is responsible for operations & training and administration & logistics respectively. Similarly, a [[Brigade]] [[Major (rank)|Major]] and Major AQ is responsible for [[Military operation|operations]] and administration in a [[brigade]].<ref name="IPCS"/>

Like the [[Indian Army]], the Sri Lanka Army has largely retained the British-style regimental system that it inherited upon independence. The individual [[regiment]]s (such as the [[Sri Lanka Light Infantry]] and the [[Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment]]) operate independently and recruit their own members. Officers tend to remain in a single [[battalion]] throughout their careers. The [[infantry]] battalion, the basic unit of organization in field operations, includes five companies of four platoons each. Typical platoon has three squads (sections) of ten personnel each. In addition to the basic infantry forces, a [[commando]] regiment was also established in 1986. Support for the infantry is provided by an [[armoured warfare|armoured]] regiment, five [[reconnaissance]] regiments, three [[mechanized infantry]] regiments, five field [[artillery]] regiments, a [[rocket artillery]] regiment, three commando regiments, three special forces regiments, six [[Combat engineering|field engineering]] regiments, five [[Signals (military)|signals]] battalions, a [[Battlefield medicine|medical corps]], and a variety of logistics units.<ref name="PC">{{cite web|title=Training {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/training|access-date=2020-07-04|work=Sri Lanka Army|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602071453/https://www.army.lk/training|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Regiments and corps===
{{main|List of current Sri Lanka Army regiments and corps}}<ref name="SLA ES1"/>
{{static row numbers}} 
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" 
!Name !! Headquarters/Regimental Centre !! Regular Units !! Volunteer Units !!Headquarters Units
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]]'''
|[[Rock House Army Camp]]
|5
|2
|0
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Artillery|Artillery]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|9
|2
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Engineers|Engineers]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|10
|2
|0
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Signals Corps|Signals Corps]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|10
|1
|1
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Light Infantry|Light Infantry]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|16
|6
|1
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment|Sinha Regiment]]'''
|[[Ambepussa Camp]]
|14
|6
|1
|-
|'''[[Gemunu Watch]]'''
|[[Kuruwita Army Camp]]
|15
|6
|1
|-
| '''[[Gajaba Regiment]]'''
|[[Saliyapura Camp]]
|14
|6
|1
|-
| '''[[Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment]]'''
|[[Boyagane Camp]]
|15
|6
|1
|-
| '''[[Mechanized Infantry Regiment]]'''
|[[Dambulla]]
|4
|1
|0
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment|Commando Regiment]]'''
|[[Ganemulla]]
|4
|0
|1
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment|Special Forces Regiment]]'''
|[[Naula]]
|4
|0
|0
|-
| '''[[Military Intelligence Corps (Sri Lanka)|Military Intelligence Corps]]'''
|[[Polhengoda]]
|4
|2
|0
|-
|'''[[Engineer Services Regiment]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|7
|9
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army Service Corps|Service Corps]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|7
|2
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps|Medical Corps]]'''
|[[Boralesgamuwa]]
|4
|1
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps|Ordnance Corps]]'''
|[[Dombagoda]]
|6
|1
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|Electrical and Mechanical Engineers]]'''
|[[Slave Island]]
|7
|1
|0
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police|Corps of Military Police]]''' 
|[[Polhengoda]]
|7
|0
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps|General Service Corps]]'''
|[[Panagoda Cantonment]]
|3
|3
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps|Women's Corps]]'''
|[[Borella]]
|2
|2
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Rifle Corps|Rifle Corps]]'''
|[[Pallekele]]
|0
|2
|0
|-
| '''[[Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps|Pioneer Corps]]'''
|[[Matugama]]
|0
|2
|0
|-
|'''[[Sri Lanka National Guard|National Guard]]''' 
|[[Kurunegala]]
|0
|19
|1
|-
|}

===Operational command===
Organized and controlled by the Army General Staff at Army HQ, various formations are raised from time to time to suit various security requirements and operations in the country and overseas. The Army at present has deployed 12 [[Division (military)|Divisions]], 7 [[task force]]s and several independent [[brigade]]s. Except for the [[11 Division (Sri Lanka)|11 Division]] based at the [[Panagoda Cantonment]] which is responsible for the maintenance of capability for the defence of the capital, all other divisions, task forces and brigades are deployed for operations in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern]] and [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern]] provinces of Sri Lanka, coming under five regional [[Command (military formation)|commands]] known as ''Security Forces Headquarters'', which are the Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna ([[Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna|SFHQ-J]]), Wanni ([[Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni|SFHQ-W]]), East ([[Security Forces Headquarters - East|SFHQ-E]]), Mullaittivu ([[Security Forces Headquarters – Mullaitivu|SFHQ-MLT]]), West ([[Security Forces Headquarters - West|SFHQ-W]]) and Central ([[Security Forces Headquarters – Central|SFHQ-C]]). One Security Forces Headquarters, the [[Security Forces Headquarters - Kilinochchi|SFHQ-KLN]] was disbanded in 2021.

Each SFHQ and most divisions are commanded by a [[General Officer Commanding]] in the rank of [[Major General]]. A SFHQ has several divisions under its command and each division is further divided into [[brigade]]s. Each brigade is commanded by an officer in the rank of [[Brigadier]] and has a number of [[Infantry]] [[battalion]]s, support arms ([[Artillery]], [[Military engineer|Engineers]] and [[Signals (military)|Signals]]) and support services (Service Corps, Engineering Services, Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) under assigned to it. There are also several administrative brigades (Artillery Brigade, Armoured Brigade, etc.) and the [[Air Mobile Brigade (Sri Lanka)|Air Mobile Brigade]].

In other parts of the country, there are Area and Sub-Area Headquarters. [[Armored vehicle|Armour]], [[Artillery]], [[Combat engineering|Engineers]] and [[Military communications|Signals]] Units are grouped under Brigade Headquarters of their own arm; Armoured Brigade, Artillery Brigade and so on.

===Formations===
{{main|List of current Sri Lanka Army formations}}
<!--;[[Overall Operational Command|Overall Operational Command - Colombo]]-->
;[[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters Formation]]
* Independent Brigade HQ
* Commander Security Unit

;[[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force|SLAVF Headquarters]]

;[[I Corps (Sri Lanka)|1 Corps]], based in [[Kilinochchi]]
*Reserve Strike Force
**[[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]], based at Inamaluwa, [[Dambulla]]<ref name="div"/>
*** [[Air Mobile Brigade (Sri Lanka)|Air Mobile Brigade]]
*** 532 Brigade
*** 533 Brigade
**[[58 Division (Sri Lanka)|58 Division]]
*** 581 Brigade
*** 582 Brigade
*** 583 Brigade
*Special Operations Force
** Commando Brigade
** Special Forces Brigade

;[[Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna]] (SFHQ-J)
* [[51 Division (Sri Lanka)|51 Division]], based in [[Jaffna]]
** 511 Brigade
** 512 Brigade
** 513 Brigade
* [[52 Division (Sri Lanka)|52 Division]], based in the [[Jaffna Peninsula]]
** 521 Brigade
** 522 Brigade
** 523 Brigade
* [[55 Division (Sri Lanka)|55 Division]], based in [[Elephant Pass Military Base]], [[Jaffna Peninsula]]<ref name="div">[http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/01/sec02.asp Two Security Forces Headquarters established in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916065912/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/01/sec02.asp |date=2011-09-16 }}</ref>
** 551 Brigade
** 552 Brigade
** 553 Brigade

;[[Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni]] (SFHQ-W)<ref name="div"/>
* Area Headquarters Mannar, [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]]
*[[21 Division (Sri Lanka)|21 Division]]
*[[54 Division (Sri Lanka)|54 Division]]
*[[56 Division (Sri Lanka)|56 Division]]
*[[62 Division (Sri Lanka)|61 Division]]
*[[65 Division (Sri Lanka)|62 Division]]

;[[Security Forces Headquarters - East]] (SFHQ-E)
* [[22 Division (Sri Lanka)|22 Division]], based in [[Trincomalee]]<ref name="Div4">[http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/14/spo10.asp Security Forces on a realistic path to achieve the set target, Dailynews] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802021713/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/14/spo10.asp |date=2008-08-02 }}</ref>
* [[23 Division (Sri Lanka)|23 Division]], based in Poonani, [[Batticaloa District]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081123/Columns/sitreport.html|title=Columns – Situation Report|publisher=|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123158/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081123/Columns/sitreport.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[24 Division (Sri Lanka)|24 Division]]

;[[Security Forces Headquarters – Mullaitivu]] (SFHQ-MLT)<ref name="div"/>
* [[59 Division (Sri Lanka)|59 Division]], operating in the [[Mullaittivu District]]
* 64 Division, operating in the [[Mullaittivu District]]
* 68 Division, Kombavil, [[Mullaittivu District]]
<!--* Task Force 2, operating in the [[Mullaittivu District]]-->

;[[Security Forces Headquarters – West]] (SFHQ-W)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=1287|title=Sri Lanka Army – Defenders of the Nation|access-date=6 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219052144/http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=1287|archive-date=19 December 2014}}</ref>
*[[14 Division (Sri Lanka)|14 Division]], based in [[Colombo]], [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]] (formerly Operation Command Colombo)
**141 Brigade, based in [[Gampaha]]
**142 Brigade, based in [[Colombo]] and [[Kalutara]]
**143 Brigade, based in [[Puttalam]] and [[Kurunegala]]
*61 Division
<!--*58 Division
**581 Brigade, based in [[Galle]]
**583 Brigade, based in [[Kaluthara]]
**583 Brigade, based in [[Ratnapura]]-->

;[[Security Forces Headquarters – Central]] (SFHQ-C)
* [[11 Division (Sri Lanka)|11 Division]]
** [[111 Brigade (Sri Lanka)|111 Brigade]] based in [[Kandy]]
** 112 Brigade, based in [[Badulla]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Army - Defender of the Nation |url=https://www.army.lk/news/112-brigade-troops-do-more-welfare-activities |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=www.army.lk |language=en}}</ref>
*[[12 Division (Sri Lanka)|12 Division]]
** 121 Brigade, based in [[Buttala]]
** 122 Brigade, based in [[Weerawila]]

;Army Training Command

;Logistic Command

;Specialist Formations
* Engineers Division 
* Armoured Brigade
* Artillery Brigade
* [[Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Sri Lanka)|Mechanized Infantry Brigade]]
* Signals Brigade
* Corps of Agriculture and Livestock

==Training==
{{See also|Sri Lanka Armed Forces Training Institutions|List of military academies in Sri Lanka}}
At the formation of the Ceylon Army in 1949, the need to train a standing army was felt strongly since the Ceylon Defence Force had operated on a regimental training model to maintain the efficiency of its volunteers culminating with the annual two week training camp at the [[garrison town]] of [[Diyatalawa]], in the [[Badulla District]] which became the traditional training grounds for the newly formed army. The '''Army Recruit Training Depot''' was established in Diyatalawa in 1950 and later renamed as the '''Army Training Centre'''. Officer cadets were sent to the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], along with specialized training at trade schools of the British Army, while officers of [[Field officer|field rank]] were sent to the [[Staff College, Camberley]] and to the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]]. With the economic limitations in the 1960s, focus was given for local training in order to save foreign exchange. The army initiated basic officer training at the Army Training Centre in 1968. With the rapid expansion of the army in the 1980s and 1990s saw the establishment of local specialist and trade schools, along with staff colleges and a defence university. At present the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) with its headquarters at Diyatalawa formulates all training doctrine of the army and all its training centres. ARTRAC directs all army training establishments, regimental training establishments and battalion training schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Training {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/training|access-date=2020-07-04|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602071453/https://www.army.lk/training|url-status=live}}</ref>

All pre-commissioning training for officers are carried out at the '''[[Sri Lanka Military Academy]]''' (SLMA) (formally the '''Army Training Centre''') and at the '''[[Volunteer Force Training School]]''' (VFTS) situated in Diyatalawa. The officer cadets graduating from SLMA are commissioned as officers in the regular and volunteer forces, while VFTS conducts shorter commissioning courses for prospective officers for the volunteer force and the [[National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)|National Cadet Corps]]. The course for officer cadets runs for ninety weeks and includes training in tactics and administration which helps prepare the cadets to take up the positions of [[platoon]] and [[Company (military unit)|company]] commanders. The course consisted of military and academic subjects and also trained the cadets [[physical training|physically]]. The course helps to promote [[leadership]] qualities and the understanding of each one's role as an officer and a servant of the state. Due to the lack of officers within the lower levels, the training process was sped up in the 1980s by developing a short commission course. The cadets were given a training of fifty-six weeks and devoted themselves to continue their careers in the military with the mandatory ten years of service for regular army officers and five years of service for volunteer officers. Once completing their basic training at SLMA, junior officers would receive specialized training at training centres which would include young officers courses in their area of specialization followed by advanced training on weapon systems.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>

Selected [[field officer]]s attended command and staff courses at the [[Army War College, Buttala|Army War College]] followed by the [[Staff College|Command and Staff Course]] at the '''[[Defence Services Command and Staff College]]''' (DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which was established in 1997 as the Army Command and Staff College. Officers may attend specialist long courses such as the Logistics Staff Course that is conducted at the '''[[Army School of Logistics]]''' which was established in 2011. Senior field officers with the potential to advance to general officer rank are selected to attend the prestigious [[National Defence College, Sri Lanka|National Defence College]] (NDC) in [[Colombo]] which is the highest level of military training in Sri Lanka.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>
 
The '''[[General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University]]''' (KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in [[Ratmalana]], fourteen kilometres south of [[Colombo]], as only university specializing in defence studies in the island. Each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18–22) to participate in a three-year programme of academic work and as sent to their service academies for their final year of training. In addition KDU conducts postgraduate and masters programs in defence related subjects for officers who attend staff and defence courses at DSCSC and NDC.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>

Training for the new recruits are carried out by the '''[[Army Training School]]''' in Maduru Oya and at several locations by training battalions, followed by additional specialized training in arms or trade at training centres such as the '''[[Infantry Training Centre (Sri Lanka Army)|Infantry Training Centre]]''' in Minneriya and the '''Combat Training School''' in Ampara.<ref name="IPCS"/><ref name="PC"/>

At its formation the armed forces of Sri Lanka had limited indigenous training facilities, especially in technical and advanced roles, they have depended greatly on military training provided by foreign countries. The United Kingdom played a major role in the early years following independence and have continued to be an important source of military expertise to the Sri Lankan military. Other sources include India, Pakistan, the United States, Australia and Malaysia. Additionally, in an agreement reached in 1984, Israeli security personnel (reportedly from [[Shin Bet]], the Israeli [[counterespionage]] and internal security organisation) trained army officers in [[counterinsurgency]] techniques. With the rapid expansion of the army, in recent years it has expanded its training facilities locally.<ref name="PC"/>

The Sri Lankan Army has also provided special training to the [[United States Army]] on their request as well as many other countries in military education regarding civilian rescue, jungle combat, and guerilla warfare etc.<ref name="colombopage.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/May15_1273933283JR.php|title=Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Army to train US Army|date=15 May 2010|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205458/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/May15_1273933283JR.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}

===Training establishments===
{{col-2}}
'''Training Centres'''<ref name="army-train">{{cite web |url=http://army.lk/train.php |title= Training, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2006-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060410062148/http://www.army.lk/train.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-04-10}}</ref>
# [[Sri Lanka Military Academy]] (SLMA)
# [[Army War College, Buttala|Army War College]] (AWC)
# [[Army School of Logistics]] (ASL)
# [[Volunteer Force Training School]] (VFTS)
# [[Army Training School]] (ATS)
# [[Infantry Training Centre (Sri Lanka Army)|Infantry Training Centre]] (ITC)
# Combat Training School (CTS)
# Army Physical Education Centre (APEC)
# Marksman Sniper Training School (MSTS)
# Centre for Army Vocational Training (CAVT)
<!--# Non-Commission Officer Training School (NCOTS)
# Language Training School (LTS)-->
# Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOT-SL)

{{col-2}}
'''Regimental Training Centres'''<ref name="army-train"/>
# Armoured Corps Training Centre
# [[Sri Lanka Artillery#School Of Artillery|School of Artillery]]
# [[Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering]]
# Sri Lanka Signal Corps Training School
# Mechanized Infantry Training Centre
# Commando Regiment Training School
# Commando Regimental Special Warfare Training School
# Special Forces Training School
# Special Forces Combat Diving Training School
# Special Forces Jungle Warfare Training School
# Military Intelligence Training School
# Airmobile Training School
# Engineer Services Trade School
# Army Service Corps Training School
# Sri Lanka Army Military School of Nursing
# Sri Lanka Army Ordnance School
# Sri Lanka Electrical And Mechanical Engineers School
# Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police School
# Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps Trade School
{{col-end}}

==Personnel==
As of 2024 the Sri Lanka Army had 150,000 personnel.<ref name="downsize"/> In 2023 the army had 200,783 personnel and the number was reduced to 150,000 in 2024.<ref name="downsize">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front-page/Sri-Lankas-plan-to-downsize-military-Tri-forces-halt-general-recruitment/238-276984#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20State%20Minister%20of,efforts%20to%20overhaul%20its%20finances.|title=Sri Lanka's plan to downsize military Tri-forces halt general recruitment|work=dailymirror.lk|access-date=11 March 2024|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926151222/https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front-page/Sri-Lankas-plan-to-downsize-military-Tri-forces-halt-general-recruitment/238-276984#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20State%20Minister%20of,efforts%20to%20overhaul%20its%20finances.|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late 1987, the army had a total estimated strength of up to 40,000 troops, about evenly divided between regular army personnel and reservists on active duty. The approximately 20,000 regular army troops represented a significant increase over the 1983 strength of only 12,000. Aggressive recruitment campaigns following the 1983 riots raised this number to 16,000 by early 1985.<ref name="PC"/> By 1990 the army had expanded to over 90,000 personnel and by 2007, it had expanded to over 120,000.<ref name="USSD">{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010607063826/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2001 |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2000 |access-date=2007-03-23 |date= February 23, 2001 |publisher=U.S. State Department }}</ref>

Since the Sri Lankan armed forces are [[Volunteer military|all volunteer]] services, all personal in the Sri Lanka Army have volunteered as regular personnel or reservists. This should not be confused with the traditional term ''volunteers'' used for reservists or reservist units. Recruitment of the personal are carried island wide with a restrictions in the northern and eastern provinces during the civil war in those areas. The [[Sri Lanka Rifle Corps|Rifle Corps]] is the only territorial unit that carries out recruitment from a specific area.

===Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients===
The [[Parama Weera Vibhushanaya]] is the highest award for valour awarded in the Sri Lankan armed forces. Army recipients include;
* [[Colonel]] [[A.F. Lafir]] {{KIA}}
* [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Lalith Jayasinghe]] {{KIA}}
* [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[G. S. Jayanath]] {{KIA}}
* [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[K. A. Gamage]] {{KIA}}
* [[Major (rank)|Major]] W.M.I.S.B. Walisundara {{KIA}}
* [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] [[Saliya Upul Aladeniya]] {{KIA}}
* [[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]] H. G. M. H. I. Megawarna {{KIA}}
* [[Lieutenant]] U. G. A. S. Samaranayake {{KIA}}
* [[Second Lieutenant]] [[K.W.T. Nissanka]] {{KIA}}
* [[Warrant Officer|Warrant Officer 2nd Class]] [[Pasan Gunasekera]]{{KIA}}
* [[Staff Sergeant]] [[H. G. S. Bandara]] {{KIA}}
* [[Sergeant]] [[D. M. S. Chandrasiri Bandara]] {{KIA}}
* [[Sergeant]] P.N. Suranga {{KIA}}
* [[Sergeant]] A.M. Anura{{KIA}}
* [[Corporal]] [[Gamini Kularatne]]{{KIA}}
* [[Corporal]] [[K. Chandana]] {{KIA}}
* [[Corporal]] P. M. Nilantha Pushpa Kumara {{KIA}}
* [[Corporal]] A. M. N. P. Abesinghe {{KIA}}
* [[Lance Corporal]] [[W. I. M. Seneviratne]] {{KIA}}
* [[Lance-Corporal]] T. G. D. R. Dayananda {{KIA}}
* [[Lance-Corporal]] R. M. D. M. Rathnayake {{KIA}}
* [[Lance-Corporal]] [[A. M. B. H. G. Abeyrathnebanda]] {{KIA}}
* [[Lance-Corporal]] K.G.M. Rajapaksha {{KIA}}

===Notable fallen members===
Over 23,790 Sri Lankan armed forces personnel were killed since the begin of the civil war in 1981 to its end in 2009, this includes 12 general officers killed in active duty or assassinated.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/victorys-price-6200-sri-lankan-troops-20090522-bi4f.html |title=Victory's price: 6,200 Sri Lankan troops |publisher=News.smh.com.au |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=30 May 2009 |archive-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525143750/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/victorys-price-6200-sri-lankan-troops-20090522-bi4f.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 659 service personnel were killed due to the second [[1987–1989 JVP insurrection|JVP Insurrection]] from 1987 to 1990. 53 service personnel were killed and 323 were wounded in the first [[1971 JVP insurrection|JVP Insurrection]] from 1971 to 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html|title=The Sunday Times – Special Assignment|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225901/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Notable fallen members include;

* Lt. Gen. [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]]{{KIA}} – [[Overall Operational Commander]], [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern Sector]].<ref name="Daily News1">{{cite news | first=Ramani | last=Kanagaraarachchi | title=Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice | date=2007-01-20 | publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp | work=Daily News | access-date=2007-05-25 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023555/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp | archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref>
* Lt. Gen. [[Parami Kulatunga]]{{KIA}} – Former [[Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Army]].<ref name="Daily News1"/>
* Lt. Gen. [[Nalin Angammana]]{{KIA}} – Former [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]], 3 Division.<ref name="Spice">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023555/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp|url-status=dead|title=Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
* Maj. Gen. [[Vijaya Wimalaratne]]{{KIA}} – Former Jaffna Brigade Commander.<ref name="Daily News1"/>
* Maj. Gen. [[Lucky Wijayaratne|Lakshman 'Lucky' Wijayaratne]] {{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 22 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. [[Percy Fernando]]{{KIA}} – Former deputy [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]], 54 Division.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. [[Larry Wijeratne]]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-4 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. [[Susantha Mendis]]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-2 Brigade.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Maj. Gen. [[Janaka Perera]] – Former [[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army]], [[Overall Operational Commander]] of Northern Sector, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 53 Division.
* Maj. Gen. [[Ananda Hamangoda]]{{KIA}} – Former brigade commander, 51-2 Brigade.<ref>{{cite news | first=Brigadier Daya | last=Ratnayake | title=Noble in death as in life | date=2005-07-30 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. | url=http://sundaytimes.lk/050703/plus/appreciation.html | work=The Sunday Times | access-date=2007-08-18 | archive-date=1 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201140951/http://sundaytimes.lk/050703/plus/appreciation.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Brig. [[Ariyasinghe Ariyapperuma]] {{KIA}} – Former Commander, Northern Command
* Brig. [[Bhathiya Jayatilleka]] {{KIA}} – former Brigade commander, 54-1 brigade
* Brig. [[Rohitha Neil Akmeemana]] {{KIA}} – former Brigade commander, Elephant Pass.<ref name="Spice"/>
* Col. [[Tuan Nizam Muthaliff]] {{KIA}} – Former commanding officer 1st Battalion Military Intelligence Corps.<ref>{{cite news | first=Senaka | last=De Silva | title=Senior Army officer shot dead | date=2005-06-01 | publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. | url =http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/06/01/front/1.asp | work =Daily Mirror | access-date = 2007-06-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224634/http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/06/01/front/1.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-30}}</ref>
* Maj. [[Noel Weerakoon]] {{KIA}} – first army officer killed in action (during the [[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|1971 Insurrection]]).

===Directorate of Rehabilitation===
The Directorate of Rehabilitation was established with the intention and focus towards the rehabilitation of Officers and Other Ranks Wounded in Action. However, with the increase of a number of casualties due to the operations, the Sri Lanka Army proceeded to utilize the services of battle casualties with the view of obtaining a productive service from these individuals. As a result, under mentioned institutes had been established.<ref name="DIRECTORATE OF REHABILITATION">{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-army-2015.pdf |title=Directorate of Rehabilitation |access-date=2017-04-10 |work=About, Inc. |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602054758/http://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-srilanka-army-2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranaviru Sevana
* Ranaviru Apparels
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 1 ([[Anuradhapura]])
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 2 ([[Kamburupitiya]])
* Abhimansala Wellness Resort 3 ([[Panagoda]])
* Ranaviru Resources Centre
* Mihindu Seth Medura

===Women in the Sri Lanka Army===
Making a corps for women was dreamed by former [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Army]] [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] [[Denis Perera]] who became commander in October 1977. Gen. Perera sought help from the [[British Army]]'s [[Women's Royal Army Corps]] and in 1978 three females were sent to Britain for officer training. They returned to Sri Lanka in August 1979 after completion of eight months of training. The '''[[Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps]]''' was officially formed on September 14, 1979, with one battalion (the 1st regular battalion).

The first three female cadets to enroll the army were K.C. Jayaweera, M.P Wijegunawardena and V.P. Senevitathna (trained in Britain) and the first batch of female cadets to be trained in Sri Lanka was commissioned from the [[Sri Lanka Military Academy]] on 18 August 1984.<ref name="History of SLAWC">{{cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/slawc/1-slawc|title=History Of 1 SLAWC|website=alt.army.lk/slawc}}</ref> On 16 October 1980, ten women were recruited for [[Non-commissioned officer|N.C.O.]] training and were given the basic Army training at the Army Training Centre, [[Diyatalawa]]. These N.C.O.s passed out in November 1980. The three officers and ten N.C.O.s participated at the [[Independence Day (Sri Lanka)|Independence Day]] celebrations held at the [[Galle Face Green]] for the first time in 1981 and Women's Corps has been a part of the country's Independence celebrations ever since.<ref name="History of SLAWC"/> Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) A.W. Thambiraja (male) was the first [[Commanding Officer]] of the 1st regular battalion (1 SLAWC) and Major K.C. Weerasekara was promoted to Lt. Col. in 1993; she was the first woman to be promoted to this rank from this corps and was also the first woman to be appointed as the commanding officer of the 1 SLAWC in 1989 in the Major rank.

The regimental centre of the corps was established on 17 November 1997 at [[Borella]]. Male Major General W.A.A. de Silva RSP USP was the first [[Colonel Commandant]] of the Regiment from 1997 to 1998 and female Lieutenant Colonel M.H.P.S. Perera, USP was the first Centre Commandant from 1998 to 2004. Major General H.I.G. Wijerathna, USP was the first female colonel commandant of this regiment who served from 2008 to 2010 and Brigadier D.T.N. Munasinghe was the second female to be appointed as the colonel commandant in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/news/newly-appointed-slawc-colonel-commandant-assumes-duties|title=Newly-Appointed SLAWC Colonel Commandant Assumes Duties|website=alt.army.lk/slawc}}</ref><ref name="sla-women">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/regiment_regular_19.php |title=Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2007-02-04 |work=Sri Lanka Army |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128135530/http://www.army.lk/regiment_regular_19.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/slawc/|title=Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps|work=army.lk|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref>

The primary aim of raising Women's Corps was to provide telephone operators, computer operators, nurses and clerks, to release the male counterparts to the battle field. However, women soldiers were also employed on field duties later. Six more battalions were created in the 1990s and 2000s.

Over 25 female soldiers had been killed in action with the first in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=War Heroines |url=https://alt.army.lk/slawc/war_heroines |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> In 2021, a special 'Women Corps Quick Reaction Rider Team' was formed to operate in an emergency situation in [[Jaffna]]; female soldiers were in motorcycles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman soldiers now operate as special riders to monitor spread of COVID-19 in Jaffna |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Woman-soldiers-now-operate-as-special-riders-to-monitor-spread-of-COVID-19-in-Jaffna/108-212867 |access-date=28 May 2021 |publisher=Daily Mirror}}</ref>

Apart from the Women's Corps women are now recruited in the [[Sri Lanka Signals Corps]], [[Military Intelligence Corps (Sri Lanka)|Military Intelligence Corps]], [[Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps]], [[Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police]], [[Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps]], [[Corps of Engineer Services]], [[Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps]] and [[Sri Lanka Army Service Corps]].

==Equipment==
In the 1980s, the army expanded its range of weapons from the original stock of [[World War II]]-era British [[Lee–Enfield rifle]]s, [[Sten|Sten Submachine guns]], [[Vickers machine gun]]s, [[Bren gun|Bren machine guns]], [[BL 6 inch Gun Mk 7|6-inch coastal guns]], [[Daimler Armoured Car]]s, [[Universal Carrier|Bren Gun Carriers]],<ref name="SLAC1">Michael K. Cecil – Sri Lanka's Military:
The Search For A Mission, [http://www.bdblodgett.com/srilanka.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929175234/http://www.bdblodgett.com/srilanka.pdf|date=29 September 2007}}.</ref> [[Bofors 40 mm gun|40 mm anti-aircraft guns]], [[QF 3.7 inch AA gun|3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft guns]] and 4.2-inch heavy [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] as well as post war [[Alvis Saladin]]s, [[Alvis Saracen]], [[Ferret armoured car|Ferrets]] and [[Shorland S55]]s. New sources of weaponry in the mid-to-late 1970s included the [[Soviet Union]], [[Yugoslavia]], and [[People's Republic of China|China]] – countries with which the leftist [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike|Bandaranaike]] government had close ties.

To meet the threat posed by predominantly the LTTE, Army purchased modern military hardware including 50-calibre [[heavy machine gun]]s, [[rocket-propelled grenade]] (RPG) launchers, [[Night Vision Device]]s, [[M40 recoilless rifle|106 mm recoilless rifles]], 60&nbsp;mm and 81&nbsp;mm [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s, 40&nbsp;mm [[grenade launcher]]s and some [[sniper rifle]]s. Refurbished [[armoured personnel carrier]]s were added to the 'A' vehicle fleet of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, [[Sri Lanka Armoured Corps]]. These APCs enabled the Armoured Corps to have their own assault troops to provide close contact protection to their [[Alvis Saladin]] and [[Ferret armoured car|Ferret Scout Cars]] which were vulnerable to [[anti-tank]] weapons. The capability of the [[Sri Lanka Artillery]] was enhanced with the introduction of [[Ordnance QF 25 pounder]]s.<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2">{{cite book |last=Army |first=Sri Lanka |title=Sri Lanka Army, ''"50 Years On" – 1949–1999'' |edition=1st |date=October 1999 |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |location=Colombo |isbn=978-955-8089-02-6
|chapter=Chapter 1 |page=393 }}</ref> Chinese-made 122&nbsp;mm, 130&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm howitzers were introduced to the Sri Lankan Army in 1995 and 1998 whilst 122&nbsp;mm Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), were first used in 2000 by the Sri Lanka Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/org2.php|title=Sri Lanka Army|work=army.lk|access-date=25 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707163944/http://www.army.lk/org2.php|archive-date=7 July 2006}}</ref>

Though the weapons were obsolete at the time of purchase, security forces found them to be successful in combat. Land mines proved to be the most lethal threat to personnel, as a number of mines were deployed against unprotected trucks and buses by the LTTE in the northern and eastern Provinces. These land mines weighed approximately 50–100&nbsp;kg, against which no armoured vehicle that the SLA possessed was able to withstand the blast effect. Consequently, [[Armscor (South Africa)|Armscor]] [[Buffel]]s – [[South Africa]]n armoured personnel carriers constructed on a [[Unimog]] chassis – were imported in quantity. By 1987 Sri Lanka's indigenous [[Unicorn APC]] had been engineered from the Buffel, followed by the improved [[Unibuffel]] class.<ref name="JIG">{{cite web |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/04/25/fea22.html |title=SFrom Unicorn to Unibuffel |publisher=sundayobserver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930161026/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/04/25/fea22.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> Both the Unicorn and the Unibuffel are assembled by the [[Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers]] (SLEME).<ref name="PC"/><ref name="SLABOOK2"/>

In recent years, Sri Lanka has become increasingly reliant on China for weapons.<ref name="IANS1">{{cite news | first=Rahul | last=Bedi | title=Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs | date=2007-06-02 | publisher=Urdustan.com Network | url=http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html | work=IANS | access-date=2007-06-02 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604170848/http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html | archive-date=2007-06-04 }}</ref> This is due to most [[European Union|European nations]] and the United States Governments passing regulations about the selling of weaponry to nations which are suffering or suffered from internal conflict.<ref name="slawc-rep">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalactionpw.org/un/SALW_PoA_RC_%20REPORT.pdf |title=Small Arms and Light Weapons Conference Report |access-date=2006-07-23 |work=Judith McDaniel |archive-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313092536/http://www.globalactionpw.org/un/SALW_PoA_RC_%20REPORT.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> However the United States has expressed its intent to maintain military training assistance. Recently the Sri Lankan Army started to produce locally weapons such as a new multiple rocket launcher, with 10 barrels and a firing range of 20&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SL made multi-barrel rocket launcher unveiled|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/SL-made-multi-barrel-rocket-launcher-unveiled/110-161967|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English|archive-date=26 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152259/https://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/SL-made-multi-barrel-rocket-launcher-unveiled/110-161967|url-status=live}}</ref> The SLEME is also producing vehicles for transport, the [[UniCOLT]] series trucks,<ref>{{Cite web|title='Made in Sri Lanka' UniCOLT Vehicles to be Manufactured at SLEME Workshop {{!}} Sri Lanka Army|url=https://www.army.lk/news/made-sri-lanka-unicolt-vehicles-be-manufactured-sleme-workshop|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.army.lk|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112201326/https://www.army.lk/news/made-sri-lanka-unicolt-vehicles-be-manufactured-sleme-workshop|url-status=live}}</ref> and landmine-resistant vehicles, the [[UniAIMOV]]s and the [[Avalon (MPV)|UniAVALONs]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-15|title=Sri Lanka Army's innovative new workshop|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/12/15/sri-lanka-armys-innovative-new-workshop/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127190431/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/12/15/sri-lanka-armys-innovative-new-workshop/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the Army shipped several modernized Unibuffels to the Sri Lankan forces who are serving in a peacekeeping mission in Mali.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Katugampala |first=Manohari |title=Military engineers achieve success with modified Unibuffels|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/31/features/227390/military-engineers-achieve-success-modified-unibuffels|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Daily News|language=en|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113103731/http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/31/features/227390/military-engineers-achieve-success-modified-unibuffels|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sri Lanka also continues to receive a variety of weapons from Britain, India, Japan, Pakistan, Israel and other former suppliers.<ref name="IANS1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20031017naval_surveillance_millstone_LTTE.htm |title=Naval surveillance is the millstone around LTTE's neck |access-date=2003-10-17 |work=P.K. Balachanddran |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031120105840/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20031017naval_surveillance_millstone_LTTE.htm |archive-date=2003-11-20 }}</ref>

===Armour===
[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0235.jpg|thumb|Sri Lanka Army WZ551 APC]]

[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0199.jpg|thumb|Unibuffel MK II Armoured Personnel Carrier – Sri Lanka Army]]

[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0229.jpg|thumb|Type 89 (YW534) Armoured Fighting Vehicles]]

[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0216.jpg|thumb|Sri Lanka Army BTR80A]]

[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0224.jpg|thumb|Sri Lanka Army MT-55A Armoured Vehicle-launched Bridge pulled by Tatra T815 Truck]]

[[File:Unicob Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle (MRAPV)- Sri Lanka Army.jpg|thumb|[[Unicob]] Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle (MRAPV)]]

{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Origin
! Quantity
! Notes
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Main battle tank]]s
|-
| [[T-55AM2]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<br />{{CZS}}
| 62<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment"/>
|Czech variant based on T-55 of Soviet Union
|-
| [[Type 59 tank|Type 59]]
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 0 Active 
|Up to 25<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Arms transfer database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/CSVResult |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=armstransfers.sipri.org |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510044140/https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/CSVResult |url-status=live }}</ref> in reserve.
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Infantry fighting vehicle]]s
|-
| [[BMP-2]]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
| 49<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/army-equipment.htm Sri Lanka Army Equipment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210085604/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/army-equipment.htm |date=10 February 2013 }}. globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2013-06-09.</ref>
|
|-
| [[BMP-1]]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
| 13<ref name="Sri Lanka Army Equipment"/>
|
|-
| [[WZ551|ZSL-92/Type 92 IFV]] (WZ-551A)
|  {{flagcountry|China}}
| 80<ref name=":3" />
| Wheeled
|-
|[[Type 85 AFV|Type 85]] (YW-309)
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|0<ref name=":2" />
|Tracked, up to 20 stored <ref name=":3" />
|-
! colspan="4" |[[Armored car (military)|Armoured cars]]
|-
|[[Land Rover Tangi#The Hotspur Hussar|Land Rover Hotspur]]
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|N/A
|
|-
|[[UniAIMOV]]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A
|[[4x4]] Light armoured High-Mobility/Forward Command vehicle
|-
! colspan="4"| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]s
|-
| [[Type 89 AFV|Type 89]] (YW-534)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 40<ref name=":3" />
| Tracked, including command post version
|-
|[[WZ551|ZSL-92A/Type-92 APC]] (WZ-551B)
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|120<ref name=":3" />
|
|-
| [[Type 85 AFV|Type 85]] (YW-531H)
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| 30<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
| Tracked, amphibious
|-
| [[Type 63 (armoured personnel carrier)|Type 63]] (YW-531)
|  {{flagcountry|China}}
|  10<ref name=":3" />
| Tracked
|-
| [[BTR-80|BTR-80/80A]]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr />{{flagcountry|Russia}}
|  25<ref name=":2" />
| Wheeled
|-
| [[Buffel]]
| {{flagcountry|South Africa|1928}}<br />{{flagcountry|West Germany}}
| 31<ref name=":2" />
| Mine-protected APC
|-
| [[Unibuffel]]
| {{flagcountry|South Africa|1928}}<br >{{flagcountry|West Germany}}<hr >{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| 60+
| Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
|-
| [[Unicorn class|Unicorn]]
| {{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|  105<ref name=":2" />
| Locally manufactured, mine-protected APC
|-
|[[Avalon MPV|Avalon]] 
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A<ref>{{Cite web|title=New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|access-date=2021-01-06|website=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331053906/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190224/news/new-locally-made-mpv-better-at-withstanding-mines-sleme-337818.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[Six-wheel drive|6x6]] [[MRAP|Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected]] Command vehicle
|-
|[[Unicob]]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|N/A
|Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Combat engineering vehicle|Engineering support vehicles]]
|-
| [[T-54/T-55 Operators and variants#Czechoslovakia|VT-55]]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr/>{{flagcountry|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|1960}}
| 16<ref name=":2" />
| [[Armoured recovery vehicle]]
|-
| [[MT-55A]]
| {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr/>{{flagcountry|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|1960}}
| 2<ref name=":2" />
| [[Armoured vehicle-launched bridge]]
|-
|[[BTR-80|BREM-K]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}<hr />{{flagcountry|Russia}}
|N/A<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Armoured Corps |url=https://alt.army.lk/slac/afvs |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=alt.army.lk |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227001426/https://alt.army.lk/slac/afvs |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Armoured recovery vehicle]]
|-
|[[Type 89 AFV|Type 89 Recovery Vehicle]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|N/A<ref name="auto"/>
|[[Armoured recovery vehicle]]
|}

=== Multi Purpose Trucks ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Type
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
|[[UniCOLT#MPT|UniCOLT]]
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| rowspan="8" |N/A
|Multi Purpose Truck
|-
|[[Tata Group|Tata]] Model 1210 SD 
|{{flag|India}}
|Field Artillery Tractor
|-
|Tata Defence Troop Carrier LPT 709
|{{flag|India}}
|Troop carrier
|-
|[[Ashok Leyland Stallion]]
|{{flag|India}}
|Troop carrier
|-
|[[XC2200|NORTHBENZ Tiema XC2200]]
|{{flag|China}}
|Troop carrier, Field Artillery Tractor 
|-
|[[Tatra 815]]
| {{flag|Czechoslovakia}} <br >/ {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|Troop Carrier, Heavy Equipment Transporter
|-
|[[China National Heavy Duty Truck Group|Sinotruk HOWO 371]]
|{{flag|China}}
|Heavy Equipment Transporter
|-
|[[Tata LPTA|Tata LPTA 1628 6x6]]
|{{flag|India}}
|Used for UN missions.
|-
|Mitsubishi Canter
|{{Flag|Japan}}
| rowspan="2" |N/A
|Troop carrier <ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=CMETSL - College of Military Engineering and Technology Sri Lanka |url=https://www.cmetsl.lk/more_projects.php?code=44 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.cmetsl.lk}}</ref>
|-
|Cxxm 3 Generation Combat Personal Carrier Troop Truck
|{{flag|China}}
|Used for UN missions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=[Hot Item] Cxxm 3 Generation Combat Personal Carrier Troop Truck |url=https://xinxingxiamen.en.made-in-china.com/product/lAopjIgcbrVb/China-Cxxm-3-Generation-Combat-Personal-Carrier-Troop-Truck.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Made-in-China.com |language=en}}</ref>
|}

=== Utility and staff transport ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Type
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
|Land Rover Defender
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="4" |N/A
|Used for Utility and staff transport<ref name=":4" />
|-
|Toyota Landcruiser 
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Used for Utility and staff transport<ref name=":4" />
|-
|Tata Sumo
|{{flag|India}}
|Used for Utility and staff transport<ref name=":4" />
|-
|Mitsubishi L200
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Used for Utility and staff transport<ref name=":4" />
|}

===Artillery===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Type
!Image
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
! colspan="5" |MRLS
|-
|[[RM-70 multiple rocket launcher|RM-70]] 
|[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0253.jpg|frameless]]
|{{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|22<ref name=":2" />
|20.7 km range
|-
|[[KRL 122|KRL-122]] 
|
|[[Pakistan]]
|6<ref name=":2" />
|45 km range
|-
! colspan="5" |Towed artillery
|-
|[[152 mm gun-howitzer D-20|D-20]] 
|[[File:D-20 howitzer of the Hungarian Armed Forces.jpg|frameless]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|46<ref name=":2" />
|17,4 km range
|-
|[[Type 59-1|Type-59-1]] 
|[[File:130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46).jpg|frameless]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|30<ref name=":2" />
|27 km range
|-
|[[Type 83 122 mm howitzer|Type-83]] 
|[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0248.jpg|frameless]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
|20<ref name=":2" />
|19 km range
|-
! colspan="5" |Mortars
|-
|[[120-PM-43 mortar|PM-43]] 120mm
|[[File:120 mm moździerz wz. 1943 PM MWB 02.jpg|frameless]]
|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|55<ref name=":2" />
|5,7 km range
|-
|82mm
|[[File:Chinese 82mm type 53 mortar1.jpg|frameless]]
|unknown
|209<ref name=":2" />
|
|-
|81mm
|[[File:81mm L16 mortier.jpg|frameless|220x220px]]
|unknown
|520<ref name=":2" />
|
|}
[[File:Sri Lanka Military 0251.jpg|thumb|RM-70 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher – Sri Lanka Army]]

=== Special Vehicles ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Type
!Origin
!Quantity
!Notes
|-
|[[BJ2022]]
|{{flagcountry|China}}
| rowspan="8" |10<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://army.lk/news/special-communication-vehicles-under-chinese-grant-delivered-army | title=Sri Lanka Army Defender of the Nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225061918/https://www.army.lk/news/special-communication-vehicles-under-chinese-grant-delivered-army | archive-date=25 February 2024 }}</ref>
|Field Communication Vehicle
|-
|}

===Infantry weapons===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Handgun]]s 
! Country of manufacture
|-
| [[Beretta 92]]
| {{flag|Italy}} 
|-
| [[Glock 17]]
| {{flag|Austria}}
|-
| [[Glock 19]]
| {{flag|Austria}}
|-
| [[CZ 75]]
| {{flag|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic}}
|-
| [[QSZ-92]]
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[P226]]
| {{flag|Switzerland}}
|-
| [[M1911]]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Assault rifle]]s, [[Battle rifle]]s and [[Carbine]]s
|-
| [[Type 56]] (ceremonial use only)<ref name="SAS1">{{cite book  |last = Smith | first = Chris | title = In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka | publisher = Small Arms Survey |date=October 2003  |url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2003-op11-sri_lanka.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060812044543/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2003-op11-sri_lanka.pdf
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = August 12, 2006
}}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[Type 56]]-2 
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[Type 81 Assault Rifle|Type 81]] assault rifles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type81rifle.asp |title=T 81 Assault Rifle |access-date=2007-03-14 |work=SinoDefence |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070214094032/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/type81rifle.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-14}}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[M16 rifle|M16]] 
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| [[M4 Carbine]]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| [[SAR-21]] 
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
| [[QBZ-95]] 
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[SAR-80]] (Retd)<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
| [[FN FNC]] (Retd)
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| [[MZ-47]]
| {{flag|Israel}}
|-
| [[CAR-15]]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch G3|G3]] (Retd)
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| [[Sub-machine gun]]s
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch MP5|MP5]] (MP5A3, MP5SD6, MP5KA5)
| {{flag|West Germany}} <hr > {{flag|Germany}}
|-
| [[Uzi]] submachine guns<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Israel}}
|-
| [[Taurus SMT]]-9
| {{flag|Brazil}}
|-
! [[Sniper rifle]]s
! Country of manufacture
|-
| [[Accuracy International Arctic Warfare|Accuracy International L96A1]]
| {{flag|UK}}
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch PSG1]] sniper rifles
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| [[Machine gun]]s
|-
| [[Type 80 machine gun|Type 80]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vodkakalashnikov.com/biography.htm |title=Biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov |access-date=2007-03-15 |date=January 14, 2004 |publisher=VRQ International, Inc. |archive-date=11 August 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811191244/http://www.vodkakalashnikov.com/biography.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[FN Minimi]]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| [[FN MAG]]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|-
| [[M240 machine gun]]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch HK21|HK21]] Belt-fed [[light machine gun]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/reg.burma/archives/199901/msg00057.html |title=If You're Involved in Resolving the |access-date=2007-03-15 |date=January 5, 1999 |publisher=ibiblio.org |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102130951/http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/reg.burma/archives/199901/msg00057.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flag|West Germany}} <hr > {{flag|Germany}}
|-
! colspan=2"| [[Grenade launcher]]s
|-
| [[Milkor MGL]] grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|South Africa|1928}}
|-
| [[HK 69]] breech-loading [[grenade launcher]]<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|West Germany}}
|-
| [[M203 grenade launcher|M203]] grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|US}}
|-
|[[STK 40 AGL]] automatic grenade launcher<ref name="SAS1"/>
| {{flag|Singapore}}
|-
! colspan=2"|[[Rocket launcher]]s
|-
| [[M72 LAW]]
| {{flag|US}}
|-
| [[RPO-A Shmel (Bumblebee)|RPO-A Shmel]] man-portable [[Shoulder-launched missile weapon|rocket launcher]]
| {{USSR}} <hr > {{flag|Russia}}
|-
| [[Type 69 RPG]] rocket launchers<ref name="PC"/>
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[B-300#Shipon|IMI Shipon]] shoulder-launched rocket system
| {{flag|Israel}}
|-
! colspan=2"| [[Anti-tank weapon]]s
|-
| [[HJ-8]] [[Anti-tank guided missile]]
| {{flag|China}}
|-
| [[Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle]]
| {{flag|Sweden}}
|}

== Welfare ==

=== Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit ===
{{Main|Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit}}
[[File:ASVU.jpg|thumb|Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit President with the presidents of Regimental Branches]]
Inaugurated on 12 July 1984,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|title=About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit|website=alt.army.lk|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528233332/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/index.php|title=Welcome to Army Seva Vanitha Unit|website=alt.army.lk|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093708/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref> functions with the main objective of providing welfare facilities to the next of kin of war heroes who have sacrificed their lives, gone missing in action or injured whilst defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their motherland while also empowering the families of the serving Army personnel. Traditionally the organization functions under the leadership of the wife of the serving [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Army]], and the members are the spouses of Army Officers as well as Lady Officers. The organization extends to 22 Regimental branches<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.lk/|title=Sri Lanka Army|website=www.army.lk|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093637/https://www.army.lk/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> functioning under the patronage of the wives of the respective Regimental Commanders.

Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit conducts various welfare projects such as Viru Kekulu pre-schools, day care centres, welfare shops, bakeries and salons,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=About Us: Army Seva Vanitha Unit|url=https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|access-date=2020-07-04|website=alt.army.lk|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528233332/https://alt.army.lk/sevavanitha/aboutus.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the committed contribution of the dedicated membership. Construction of houses, giving away of educational scholarships and assisting in times of natural disasters, are done at both organizational and Regimental levels. The volunteer service extended by the spouses of the Army Officers whilst multitasking at their roles as wives, mothers and professionals, is an immense strength to Sri Lanka Army.<ref name=":1" />

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" heights="140" caption="Sri lanka Army">
File:SLA Baktar-Shikan.JPG|SLA [[HJ-8]].
File:Sri Lanka Military 0230.jpg|[[BMP-2]] infantry fighting vehicle
File:Sri Lanka Military 0208.jpg|[[T-55#T-55A|T-55AM2]].
File:Sri Lanka Military 0203.jpg|SLA [[Unibuffel]].
File:SLA MIR weapons.JPG|SLA MIR weapons
File:Sri Lanka Military 0238.jpg|SLA Bomb Disposal Units on Victory Day Parade.
File:Sri Lanka Military 0222.jpg|[[WZ551]] (Type 92) infantry fighting vehicles.
File:Sri Lanka Military 0185.jpg|Combat Rider Teams, [[Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment|Special Forces Regiment]]
File:Sri Lanka Military 0249.jpg|[[Type 59 field gun|Type 59 130mm field gun]]
File:Sri Lanka Military 0250.jpg|[[Type 66 howitzer|Type 66 152 mm gun-howitzer]]
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Awards and decorations of the military of Sri Lanka]]
*[[Uniforms of the Sri Lanka Army]]
*[[Sri Lanka Army ranks and insignia]]
*[[Sri Lanka National Guard]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sri Lanka Army}}
* [http://www.army.lk Official website]
* [http://www.defence.lk/ Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka]
* [https://www.kdu.ac.lk/ General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University]

{{Military of Sri Lanka}}
{{Sri Lankan security forces}}
{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Sri Lanka Army| ]]
[[Category:Defence agencies of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1949]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Ceylon]]