Sri Lanka Signals Corps Explained

Unit Name:Sri Lanka Signals Corps
Dates:19 October 1943 - Present
Country: Sri Lanka
Type:Signal corps
Role:Military communications
Electronic warfare
Information technology support
Cyberwarfare
Size:1 signal brigade
10 regular regiments
1 volunteer regiment
Garrison:Panagoda Cantonment, Homagama
Garrison Label:Regimental Headquarters
Nickname:SLSC
Motto:ස්ථීර ක්‍ෂණික Sthira Kshanika
(Sinhala: Swift and Sure)
March:Begone Dull Care
Battles:Sri Lankan Civil War
United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti
Insurrection 1987-89
1971 Insurrection
World War II
Anniversaries:19 October
Commander1:Brigadier GS Fonseka USP psc
Commander1 Label:Centre Commandant
Commander2:Warrant officer E M S C Ekanayaka
Commander2 Label:Regimental Sergeant Major
Notable Commanders:Lieutenant Colonel D.V. Brohier (First Commanding Officer)
Major General W.J.T.K. Fernando
Major General C.J. Abayaratne
Major General A.M.C.W.B. Senewiratne
Major General Y.S.A. de Silva
Major General T.F. Meedin RSP, Ldmc
Major General K.A.W.S. Ratnayake ndu
Identification Symbol Label:Flag
Native Name:Sinhala; Sinhalese: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංඥා බලකාය

The Sri Lanka Signals Corps (SLSC) (Sinhalese: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංඥා බලකාය Shri Lanka Sana Balakaya) is a combat support corps of the Sri Lanka Army,[1] responsible for providing military communications, information technology and electronic warfare support. The corps is made up of a signals brigade, ten regular regiments and one volunteer regiment. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. It is headquartered at the Panagoda Cantonment.

Colonel Commandant of the SL Signals and Chief Signal Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Commander Signals Brigade, operationally in charge of all units and sub-units in the field.

The flag and cap badge feature Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, who is referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy".

History

Established on October 19, 1943, as a part of the Ceylon Defence Force[2] it was reformed as a troop of signals February 9, 1950 following the formation of the Ceylon Army in 1949. The initial task of this troop was to provide communications between Army HQ and its branches. In 1949, the Volunteer Signals unit was commanded by Lt Col CR De Silva. By the end of 1950 this troop had 1 Officer and 17 other ranks and their tasks included establishing a signals office at Army HQ, provision of a signal dispatch service, manning a switch board and the construction and maintenance of underground as well as field cables. In May 1951 another Signals Office was established in Diyatalawa to serve the Garrison HQ which was just formed at that time. By October 1, 1951, the troop was raised to a squadron with a strength of 4 officers and 142 other ranks.

In 1951 formal approval was granted to wear the Royal Signals badges with the additional scroll "CEYLON" on it and to adopt the Royal Signals march Begone Dull Care as the regimental march of the Ceylon Signals Corps and in 1959 the 1st Regiment of the Ceylon Signals was formed with Lt Col DV Brohier was appointed as its first Commanding Officer. In 1962 following the attempted military coup the 2nd volunteer signal regiment was disbanded and its remaining personnel transferred to form the National Service Regiment (NSR).

In 1972 with Sri Lanka proclaiming itself a republic, the Corps was renamed as the Sri Lanka Signals Corps. In 1980 a new Volunteer squadron was raised. The Corps has expanded to a level of a Signals Brigade with integral signals units under HQ Chief Signal Officer at the highest level of command in performing the classic role. The Signals Corps provides support to the combat and support arms by providing communications, electronic warfare and information technology support in the battle field and at the rear. All these signal units and sub-units administratively come under the aegis of the Regimental Centre located at Panagoda Cantonment.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home . army.lk.
  2. Web site: Forgotten campaign, forgotten veterans .
  3. Web site: Sri Lanka Signal Corps - Sri Lanka Army. www.army.lk.
  4. Web site: Medals | Sri Lanka Army. www.army.lk.