14th October 2022 18:27:45 Hours
The Sri Lanka Army's one of the most prestigious and battle-hardened entities, the Gajaba Regiment (GR) which marks its 39th anniversary today (14) considers 14th October of every year as the red-letter day aka the memorable GR Regimental Day, a day that brings refreshing memories and connectivity with one another as one bonded family of infantrymen who have joined the saga of unmatched bravery and heroism.
Friday's (14) assembly of the family of ‘Keterians’, serving in every corner of the island to the GR Regimental HQ, Saliyapura took all of them a trip down memory lane as they, including none other than the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage who is also the Colonel of the Regiment, showed up there as the Chief Guest to commemorate the 39th anniversary milestone of their prestigious Regiment, founded by late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne in 1983.
On the anniversary day (14), the Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage was greeted with a Guard Turnout in accordance with military formalities at the entrance of the Gajaba Regimental Centre where the Deputy Centre Commandant, Colonel KR Kalupahana RSP USP warmly welcomed him. Attaching pride of place to the memory of GR's architect, he then proceeded to pay his tribute to the Founding Father, late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne by placing a floral wreath at his statue.
After a while, the day's proceedings reached its climax as the day's Chief Guest was ushered to receive the salute in the Anniversary Parade. At the entrance to parade ground, Brigadier HTW Vidyananda RWP RSP USP, Centre Commandant, GR extended a warm welcome and accompanied the Army Chief to the special dais. Together with the Parade Commander, he reviewed the elegantly-dressed parade, composed of 22 Officers and 502 Other Ranks of all GR battalions along with proudly paraded Presidential and Regimental colours and took the salute from the special dais.
Next, was the Colonel of the Regiment’s address to the troops, in which he summed up all milestones of the Keterians, commitment of GR forefathers to the motherland and the GR's eventful journey of 39 years. He also paid his highest respect to the sacrifices of fallen war heroes and wished speedy recovery to wounded ones, some of who are still under recuperation.
At the end of the parade, the Army Chief was invited to add eternal memories to the day by planting an ironwood (Naa) sapling in the compound. Group photographs and a subsequent Regimental Day lunch for All Ranks drew the anniversary commemoration to a close.
GR Council members, veterans, Senior GR Officers, wounded War Heroes and Other Ranks attended the day's event.
After the amalgamation of the 1 Rajarata Rifles Battalion and the 1 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment together, late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne with a visionary approach founded the Gajaba Regiment on 14th October 1983 when the Sri Lanka Army was in desperate need of a new regiment, driven by a daring breed of infantrymen who could take on the enemy fearlessly as separatist elements were intensifying their violent and savage attacks on civil and military targets.
The first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne giving leadership consolidated the founding of the Regiment with the motto, ‘Unity is Strength’ and the name Gajaba itself was chosen as a tribute to the King ‘Gajaba’ since the king was famed for his physical strength, identical to that of a tusker and his unique warfare skills.
