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Gajaba Regiment
Gajaba Regiment
	; Cap badge of the Gajaba Regiment
Active	October 14, 1983 - Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Rifles
Role	Infantry/Light Role
Size	22 battalions
Regimental Centre	Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura.
Nickname	Keterians (Battle Axes)
Motto	‘Samagiya Shakthiyai' (Unity is Strength)
Colors	Light green
Anniversaries	14 October (Regimental day)
Engagements	Sri Lankan Civil War,; United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Decorations	2 Parama Weera Vibhushanayas
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Lt Col J.M.S.S. Jayasundara, RSP, USP
Colonel of; the Regiment	Maj Gen Jagath Dias, RSP, USP, ndu, psc
Notable; commanders	Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP,RSP,VSP,USP,GR †
Insignia
Identification; symbol	"GAJABA" shoulder tab

The Gajaba Regiment (GR) was formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983 to counter the threat from the LTTE. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura. It is named after a Sri Lankan famous warrior King Gajabahu the First.

[edit] History

The 1st battalion of the Regiment was formed on 14 October 1983 with the amalgamation of the Rajarata Rifles and Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. (later Major General) Vijaya Wimalaratne at Saliyapura Camp. The Cap badge of the Gajaba Regiment is designed with a shield, two battle axes (Keteri) and a powder flask. The regiment rapidly expanded due to the Sri Lankan Civil War, during which 3,500 officers and men of the regiment were killed.^[1]

The regiment was awarded President's Colours by H.E. President Mahinda Rajapakse on 11 January 2007. In 2008 a detachment from the regiment was sent to take part in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.^[2]

[edit] Units

[edit] Regular Army

1st Gajaba Battalion
3rd Gajaba Battalion
4th Gajaba Battalion
6th Gajaba Battalion
8th Gajaba Battalion
9th Gajaba Battalion
10th Gajaba Battalion
20th Gajaba Battalion
21st Gajaba Battalion
22th Gajaba Battalion^[3]

[edit] Volunteers

2nd(v) Gajaba Battalion
5th(v) Gajaba Battalion
7th(v) Gajaba Battalion
11th(v) Gajaba Battalion
15th(v) Gajaba Battalion

[edit] Recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya

[edit] Notable members

Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne, RWP,RSP,VSP,USP,GR † - Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna (SF HQ (J)) & One of the greatest generals in modern Sri Lanka
Lieutenant Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, GR - Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order
Major. Nalin De Silva^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Order of Precedence

Preceded by: Gemunu Watch	Order of Precedence	Succeeded by: Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment

[edit] See also

Sri Lanka Army

[edit] References

[edit] External links and sources

[0] Gajaba Regiment Silver Jubile

[1] Tenth UN Peace Keeping Contingent to Leave Soo

[2] 22 Gajaba Regiment Commences Functioning

[1]

[2]

[3]

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