This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2013) |
Special Force Regiment | |
---|---|
Active | December 1988 – Present |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Branch | Sri Lanka Army |
Type | Special Forces |
Size | Four Regiments (Fifth Regiment 2009-2012) |
Regimental Headquarters | Naula |
Nickname(s) | SF |
Motto(s) | අධිෂ්ඨානයෙන් අභීතව අරමුණ කරා Adhisthanayen Abhithawa Aramuna Kara (Sinhala: To the target with determination and bravery Determined, Dared and Done |
Colors | Rana Parashuwa |
Engagements | Sri Lankan Civil War |
Decorations | 5 Parama Weera Vibhushanayas |
Commanders | |
Brigade Commander, Special Forces Brigade | Brigadier Thushara Mahalekamge |
Colonel of the Regiment | Major General W.T.W.G.IHALAGE |
Notable commanders | General Mahesh Senanayake Major General G. Hettiarachchi Colonel A.F. Lafir Colonel Raj Vijayasiri Major General W.T.W.G.Ihalage Lieutenant Colonel J.A.L Jayasinghe Major J.Y Mohotti |
The Special Forces Regiment (SF) (Sinhala: විශේෂ බලකාය Visēsha Balakāya;) is a special forces unit of the Sri Lanka Army. Founded in 1986 as a combat tracker team, it was established as a regiment in 1988, and later expanded into a brigade. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terrorism, direct action and covert reconnaissance. Much like the British Army Special Air Service, much of the information about the SF is highly classified due to the secrecy and sensitivity of its operations.
The Special Forces Regiment currently consists of four regular battalions organized into the Special Forces Brigade, under the operational command of I Corps forming its Special Operations Force along with the Commando Brigade.[1]