http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=53_Division_%28Sri_Lanka%2953 Division (Sri Lanka) - Revision history2026-06-02T02:26:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=53_Division_(Sri_Lanka)&diff=7800944&oldid=previmported>IDB.S: Logo Added2025-06-01T05:57:48Z<p>Logo Added</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Elite division of the Sri Lanka Army}}<br />
{{More footnotes|date=July 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox Military Unit<br />
| unit_name = 53 Division<br />
| image = 53 Division (Sri Lanka) Logo.png<br />
| caption = <br />
| dates = 1995 - Present<br />
| country = [[Sri Lanka]]<br />
| allegiance = [[Sri Lanka]]<br />
| branch = [[Sri Lanka Army]]<br />
| type = [[Infantry]]<br />
| role = [[Air assault]]<br>[[Airlift]]<br>[[Anti-tank warfare]]<br>[[Artillery observer]]<br>[[Bomb disposal]]<br>[[CBRN defense]]<br>[[Close air support]]<br>[[Close-quarters combat]]<br>[[Combined arms]]<br>[[Counterinsurgency]]<br>[[Fire support]]<br>[[HUMINT]]<br>[[Indirect fire]]<br>[[Jungle warfare]]<br>[[Maneuver warfare]]<br>[[Raid (military)|Raiding]]<br>[[Reconnaissance]]<br>[[Tracking (Scouting)|Tracking]]<br>[[Urban warfare]]<br />
| size = Division ~ 20,000+ troops<br />
| command_structure = [[I Corps (Sri Lanka)|I Corps]]<br />
| current_commander = <br />
| garrison = Inamaluwa, [[Dambulla]]<br />
| garrison_label = Headquarters<br />
| ceremonial_chief = <br />
| colonel_of_the_regiment = <br />
| nickname = <br />
| patron = <br />
| motto = <br />
| colors = <br />
| march = <br />
| mascot = <br />
| battles = [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]]<br />
| anniversaries = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''53 Division''' is an elite combined infantry division of the [[Sri Lanka Army]]. Trained and formed in 1996 under the leadership of US military officers, the unit was used as a principal offensive division during the [[Sri Lankan civil war|War]], having been deployed for combat operations in the [[Jaffna Peninsula]], and was under the command of [[Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna]]. The brigades of the 53 Division are also trained by the US Special Forces, which have been closely involved with its development and training since 1997. The 53 division consists of the Airmobile Brigade, a Mechanised Infantry Brigade and a Special Forces Brigade. At present, it is headquartered at Inamaluwa, [[Dambulla]] and serves as one of two infantry divisions in the Reserve Strike Force (RSF) under the direct command of the [[I Corps (Sri Lanka)|I Corps]] capable of acting as a rapid reaction force (RRF).<ref>{{cite web |title=53 Division Commemorates Its 24th Anniversary |url=https://www.army.lk/news/53-division-commemorates-its-24th-anniversary |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> <br />
<br />
==Current formation==<br />
*[[Air Mobile Brigade (Sri Lanka)|Air Mobile Brigade]]<br />
*53-2 Brigade<br />
*53-3 Brigade<br />
<br />
==Sri Lankan Civil War==<br />
===Towns captured by 53 Division===<br />
{| width=100% class="wikitable" border="1"<br />
! #<br />
! Area captured<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220044505/http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03 |archive-date=2009-02-20 }}</ref><br />
! Date<br />
|-<br />
|1<br />
|Puthukkudiyirippu Hospital<br />
|12 March 2009<br />
|-<br />
|2<br />
|[[Pachchapulmuddai]]<br />
|1 April 2009<br />
|-<br />
|3<br />
|[[Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu)|Puthukkudiyiruppu]]<br />
|5 April 2009<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Notable commanders==<br />
*Major General [[Janaka Perera]]<br />
*Major General [[Kamal Gunaratne]]<br />
*Major General [[Samantha Sooriyabandara]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:53 Division}}<br />
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army divisions]]</div>imported>IDB.S