Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was formed in 22 March 1990.It is one of the foremost Infantry units in Sri Lanka.It is named after King Vijabahu(1055-1110 A.D). The first Colonel of the Regiment was then Brigadier WJVK Wimalarathna RWP RSP USP psc and the Regimental Centre Commandant was Lieutenant Colonel HSA Perera. On 23 April 1993, the Regiment was relocated at Boyagane camp in Kurunegala District.Currently the Vijayabahu regiment is composed of 27 battalions. The first battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was established in 1988. Presently among the VIR battalions there are 17 Regular Battalions, 9 Volunteer Battalions and Headquarter battalion. ].

History
Newly constructed office building was declared open by Commander of the Army on 23 January 2010. A colourful Moto racing track was reconstructed & the herbal plants were planted for the remembrance of the War heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in the Regimental premises under the guidance of present Regimental commander. This herbal garden attracts the hearts & minds of all who enter into Regimental premises.

655 Officers and 16501 Other Ranks of both regular and volunteer battalions presently serve in the Regiment. Starting from Mavil Aru to the last victorious Wanni Humanitarian Operation, all battalions played undisputed roles in the arena of tasks that were assigned to them, some of the VIR battalions were involved at critical and decisive moments during the volatile combat including the recovery of Velupillai Parbahakaran’s dead body by 4 VIR troops after the fierce fighting in the Nanthi Kadal lagoon.

2.	Training School

Vijayabahu Infantry Training school was formed at Sinhavilluwaththa Puttlam on 15 January 1991, first Chief Instructor was Maj Upali Fernando so for 62 recruit training courses were conducted & 13127 Nos of recruits were trained and distributed to various Regiments by the Training School. Nearly 300 recruits can be trained at a time. Also the special arms courses for officers & men were conducted in the school.

3.	Welfare activities

The Regiment has death donation schemes for both Officers and Other Ranks to obtain Rs 50,000.00 for the demise a next of kin in the family. Buildings have been constructed to upgrade the accommodation of officers & mess.

The Regiment Centre organizes the Vijayabahu Motocross, which is a popular annual motor racing event in the country. The Regiment has its own motor racing track, built in 1998. The aim of the motocross is to generate funds to provide welfare facilities for the families of the Officers and Other Ranks Killed in action (KIA) and missing in action (MIA) It also aims to improve infrastructure facilities and rehabilitation work of the disabled soldiers as well as serving Officers and Other Ranks for a very worthy cause.

4.	Regiment Sport Activities

The VIR has performed well in sport activities. She has won several prizes locally as well as internationally. The efficient sportsmen in VIR always put their utmost effort for keeping the VIR flag high. Volleyball team of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was the champions of the Army "A" Division volleyball tournament held in 2011. Further more the disabled soldiers of the Regiment participated in the Asian Para Games – 2011 as well as Commonwealth para Games 2011.

5.	Seva Vanitha Activities

The Vijayabahu Seva Vanitha Branch has great honour regarding the relations of KIA and the WIA war heroes. These Ladies contributions towards them are immense. They have taken steps to facilitate the constructions work of Abimansala - Brave Hearts Wellness Resort for totally disabled war heroes by donating Rs 1.5 million on 02.09.2010, Rs 100,000.00 on 01.10.2010, Rs 5.45 million on 04.10.2010 and Rs 6 million was handed over on 11.07.2011 in various occasions by generating several fund raising projects. Total amount was Rs 13.05 million. Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was the highest contributor for the "Abimansala" among all the other Regiments.

Further more the Seva Vanitha Branch of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment organized commemoration ceremonies for the families of the killed/missing officers and the Other Ranks of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. The commemoration ceremonies were held for the families of Killed/ Missing Officers and Senior non Commissioned officers on 3 July 2010 and 14 May 2011 respectively. The commemoration ceremony for Non Commissioned officers also will be held and this ceremony is schedule to be held yearly. During these ceremonies NOKS were planted herbal plants to commemorate their war heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for well being of the country. The herbal garden is being maintained by the Regiment.

Moreover, the Seva Vanitha Branch of the Regiment has coordinated to build19 houses for the families of the Killed/Missing in action war heroes and the disabled of the Regiment after the Humanitarian Operation. Also the Seva Vanitha unit visits Ranaviru Sevana, Military Hospital, Mental Hospital Mullariyawa and donated gift parcels to the patients during the musical extravaganzas.

6.	Special Regimental Roles

Sri Lanka’s boundaries do not seem to imprison the work of VIR within its own terrain as illustrated by following adventures. The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment has already sent two contingents to Haiti for UN peace Keeping Mission assignments and One Company has been sent to UN Peace Keeping Mission in Lebanon. The First contingent was sent in December 2006 and second was in June 2009 and the Company for Lebonan was sent on 10 Dec 2011. As Military observers, 11 officers of the Regiment are currently serving as in various countries. In the first time of the Regimental history, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment organized their Officers Dinner Night at Hotel Heritance Kandalama on 25 Aug 2011.The Commander of the Army graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Regular Battalions

 * 1st Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 4th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 5th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 6th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 7th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 8th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 9th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 11th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 14th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 18th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 19th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 22nd Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 23rd Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 24th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 25th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 26th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 27th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

Volunteer Battalions

 * 2nd(v) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 3rd(v) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 10th(v) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 12th(V) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 15th(v) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 16th (V) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
 * 17th(V) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

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 * and the Regiment is consisted with a Headquarter Battalion as well

External links and sources

 * Sri Lanka Army
 * Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment
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