Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment
The Commando Regiment is the commando formation of the Sri Lanka Army. The unit specializes in various roles including hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency, and personnel recovery. It was formed in 1980 and is based in Ganemulla, a suburb of Colombo.
Commandos on Independence day parade
Enactment of a hostage rescue scenario by Commandos.
Sri Lanka Army Commando K9 Unit
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. The army was officially established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, though the army traces it's roots back in 1881 when Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was created; the army was renamed as the 'Sri Lanka Army' when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972. In 2024, the Army had approximately 150,000 personnel.
A Portuguese illustration of Sinhalese warriors, produced c. 1540
First Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka D. S. Senanayake visiting the 1st battalion of the CLI at the Echelon Square and watching volunteers being trained to handle light machine guns.
Brigadier James Sinclair, Earl of Caithness inspecting a guard of honour wearing khaki drill.
Sri Lanka Army flags
