Gemunu Watch Has Its Maiden Trooping of Colours in Grand Ceremony

‘Highlanders’ of the Army, Gemunu Watch (GW) Regiment made history on Saturday (29) when they inaugurated its first-ever Trooping of President’s Colours during a ceremony at the GW Regimental Headquarters, Kuruwita, amid a large gathering of officers, headed by Major General P.U.S Vithanage, Colonel of the Regiment, GW.

The Colour Trooping ceremony with 37 Officers and 399 Other Rankers participating had its parade at first, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel K.H.M.U.B Kolongahapitiya, Commanding Officer, 1 GW.

The day’s Chief Guest, Major General Vithanage who was greeted to a Guard Turnout on arrival at the entrance to the premises received the salute in the parade before he addressed the troops highlighting the importance of the day’s historic event.

Graced by a host of GW veterans, state officials in the Sabaragamuwa Province, Centre Commandants of other Regiments, disabled GW War Heroes, the brief ceremony reminded the gathering of the GW’s proud achievements, awarding and re-awarding of Colours to the GW battalions and also why this Trooping Colour ceremony was staged.

On 15th August 2012 Colours were re-awarded to mark the 32nd anniversary of the awarding of unit Colours and Presidential Colours to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Gemunu Watch.

During the long-drawn LTTE terrorism and 1971, 1988-89 conflicts, Gemunu Watch lost 138 officers and 3031 soldiers, in addition to 12 officers and 393 soldiers who went missing in action. Similarly, 63 officers and 1438 soldiers sustained permanent injury or disability. In action, a total of 31 Officers and 2534 soldiers received injuries.

Trooping the Colour ceremony has been a practice in Infantry Regiments world-wide since 17th century, although its roots go back to much earlier times, according to military legends.