THE 5TH BATTALION of Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR) War Heroes who made history at Nandikadal lagoon during the last leg of the Eelam War IV marked their 20th Anniversary of founding with a series of religious, sports and military events.
The 5th Battalion of Vijayaba Infantry Regiment, raised on 20th March 1990 as a new battalion in the Army appointed Major General (late) P.P Fernando as the first commanding officer of the battalion when it saw its birth at Sinhavilluwatta, Puttalam.
During its life span of 20 years, the battalion has been performing well and doing a great service to the Army and the motherland by engaging in operations against LTTE terrorists until it was totally eradicated from the motherland on 18th May 2009.
Many officers as well as soldiers in the battalion made great sacrifices and recorded unparalleled gains including the capture of top LTTE leaders, heavy enemy weapons and strong LTTE bunkers and earth bunds. Their role in Nandikadal lagoon during the eleventh hour of the Eelam War IV has already gone into history due to decimation of many terrorist leaders.
Their anniversary celebrations comprised a sports tournament, conduct of Bodhi Poojas to transfer merits on their dead comrades and to invoke blessings on their fellow comrades including the injured and Commanding Officers and a special luncheon for all ranks and previous Commanding Officers and award of appreciative mementos to former and incumbent Commanding Officers.
The anniversary celebrations recalled their gallantry in Batticaloa-Kiran (1990), Kallady, Chenkallady, Thoppigala, Ampara, Silawathura, Muhamalai, Vavunia, Mankulam, Elephant Pass, Kilinochchi, Mannar, etc giving due recognition to former Commanders who sweated blood for the sake of the country after its founding some 20 years ago.
The events on anniversary celebrations included a Shramadana at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, an Alms giving to the Maliyadewa children’s home in Kurunegala, and a Guard of Honour accorded to Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier R.V Samaratunga according to military traditions. A holy Mass was also held at the Boyagane Church to mark the event.
The Regimental centre of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment was established on 22 March 1990 at Sinhawilluwatta Camp in PUTTALAM. Today the Regiment has 14 Regular Units, 9 Volunteer Units, 3 Reinforcement Units and a Headquarter Battalion with the Regimental Headquarters, situated in Boyagane, Kurunegala.
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