SLA marks 125 th anniversary:

Artillery Regiment to be awarded President's Colours

The Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) regiment which marks its 125th anniversary tomorrow, is to be honoured by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 23, awarding President's and Regimental Colours for the first time in the regiment's life-span. The ceremony in this regard is at SLA Regimental Headquarters, Panagoda.

During the anniversary celebration presided by Post Minister Jeewan Kumarathunga and Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, a special first day cover is to be released by the Postal Department.

Presidential Colours is recognized and held in high esteem as the highest accolade a regiment could receive in its life-span as a tribute to the invaluable services and numerous sacrifices it had so far made for the defence of the country.

It also symbolizes a gesture of veneration to the memories of 43 officers and 529 other ranks who made the supreme sacrifice during the 30 year long terrorism.

It also represents a salute to over 18 officers and 300 other ranks who became disabled due to injuries sustained in the fighting.

The Artillery Regiment as a fully-fledged professional outfit to this date has produced three past Commanders of the Army, 19 Major General ranks and a fine assortment of sportsmen, including those who excelled in the Asian Athletic Championship, World Military Games and Asian Games in Qatar, bringing bronze medals home.

For over 33 years, the SLA has won the Army Inter Regiment Athletic Championship and produced many national level sportsmen.

The SLA with its 12 regiments, including two volunteer regiments were categorized to perform classic artillery and infantry roles.

After the establishment of the School of Artillery in 1990 as the training wing of the Artillery Regiment, professionally accomplished artillery officers and other ranks, identified as 'Gunners' were able to achieve greater heights in their military career.

The regiment was raised as a gun battery with 50 Europeans on April 12, 1888 under the command of Captain C. E. H Symons of the Royal Artillery for defence of the Port of Colombo at that stage.

The regiment was then known as Ceylon Artillery Volunteers (CAV) and first Prime Minister of Ceylon DS Senanayake was also on the roll of the CAV in 1914.

Artillery was one of the first units to be raised in the Ceylon Army in 1949 when the Ceylon Garrison Artillery was converted into the Ceylon Artillery under the Army Act of 1949.