The first volunteer Infantry battalion of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment was raised on the instructions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya on 22nd July 2010 in a military ceremony, held at Arsakulapuram, Pooneryn. The chief guest for the occasion was Major General M. P. Peiris, Colonel of the Regiment of Mechanized Infantry Regiment and Vice Chancellor of the Kothalawala Defence University.
The 21st Battalion of the National Guard Battalion which was at the forefront in battles against LTTE terrorists during Humanitarian Operations, including 22 officers and 600 other ranks was made the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment.
During the ceremony held at battalion parade square, officers and soldiers of the newly-raised battalion were awarded regimental badges.
