Sri Lanka Light Infantry

Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Cap badge of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Active	1st April 1881 - Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Light Infantry
Role	Light Infantry, Line Infantry
Size	7 regular battalions, 4 volunteer battalions
Garrison/HQ	RHQ - Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda.
Nickname	SLLI
Motto	"Ich Dien" Latin - (I serve).
Colors	Red and Blue
March	"I am Ninety Five"
Mascot	Kandula
Anniversaries	1st April
Battles/wars	Second Boer War World War I World War II 1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War and United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Col D.A. Amunugama RWP RSP
Insignia
Identification symbol	"LIGHT INFANTRY" shoulder tab

The Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) is the oldest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of six regular battalions, three volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda. Over the years it has become the most destingushed and dependable regiments in the army.

History

The origins of the regiment goes back to the formation of the the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteer force was formed on 1st April 1881 by a proclamation issued by the Governor of Ceylon it was a reserve unit. The first commanding officer of the force was Lt. Col. John Scott Armitage and the Colonel of the Regiment was HRH Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. It is said that the Regimental March "I am Ninety Five" and the Regimental Bugle Call, in use up to now, was adopted soon after raising of the force. In the same year, the Unit had the distinction in that the Prince of Wales|HRH the Prince of Wales]] accepted the Honorary Colonelcy of The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers, by virtue of which fact the Unit adopted his Crest and motto as Its badge. In 1892, a mounted infantry company was formed and later it became a regiment of its own by the name of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. The Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteer force troops were sent to South Africa in 1900, for the Boer war and after the distinguish service in South Africa the force obtained the Banner from HRH The Duke of York.In 1902, King Edward VII became the Colonel of the Regiment.

In 1910 with formation of the Ceylon Defence Force CLI became a part of it. The regiment saw action during World war 1 along with allied troops. Soon after the war a regular element of the regiment was formed to take up garrison duties in Ceylon. This unit was named the Mobilised Detachment of Ceylon Light Infantry (Mob. Det., CLI). The regiment was again mobilized during world war 2 and was deployed in the Seychelles and the Cocos Islands.

After Ceylon gained its independence from Britain in 1948 and with the Army Act of 1949 the CLI became the Ceylon Infantry Regiment and came under the newly formed Ceylon Army. But in 1950 the regiment once again became the 1st Battalion The Ceylon Light Infantry becoming the regular unit and the and the Volunteer Battalion was re-designated as the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry.

In 1972 Sri Lanka became a republic, with it the regiment changed its name to Sri Lanka Light Infantry. Since the 1980s units of the regiment has been deployed on combat operations as a result of the Sri Lanka civil war. The regiment took par in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti in 2003.

Cadet Battalion

In 1881 a cadet platoon was formed at Royal College, Colombo attached to the CLI. This eventually expanded to became the Cadet Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry under the Ceylon Defence Force. Later this unit became the Ceylon Cadet Corps, now know as the National Cadet Corps.

Regimental Colours

The regimental colours were awarded to the regiment in 1921 and on 22 March 1922 Ceylon Light Infantry was awarded with the Kings and the Regimental Colours. When the first battalion regular force was formed HM Queen Elizabeth II presented the new colours to the battalion in 1949. The Queens and Regimentals Colours were presented to the 1st battalion on 21st April 1954 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. With the declaration of the Republic of Sri Lanka were land to rest within the regimental museum on 29th June 1974.

In 10 October 1978 H.E. President J.R. Jayawardena awarded President and Regiment Colours to the 1st Bn SLLI and 2nd Vol Bn SLLI.

Regimental Insignia

In early stage, from March 1881 to 28 November 1881 volunteer corps used an elephant and a coconut tree as their emblem. With the declaration of republic of Sri Lanka 1st and 2nd battalions of CLI decided to retain as much with the configuration and pattern of the existing badge. As result of these suggestions, a new insignia was introduced with following details;

To retain the silver bugle horn bound with brass, which is on the existing badge. This was retained because the bugle traditionally represents the infantry arm and by doing so, the Regiment could perpetuate in no small measure some of the high ideals associated with the previous insignia.

It in corporate with three sheaves of paddy arranged in a manner of up to the three plumps on the existing crest. These were in corporate to signify prosperity and the heritage of the people as an agrarian nation. It retains the motto of the Prince of Wales “ICH DIEN” which has been adopted as the motto of the regiment in its translation form “I SERVE”.