Country Sri Lanka Type Signals Corps | Branch Sri Lanka Army | |
Active 19 October 1943 - Present Role Military communications,
Electronic warfare,
Information technology support Size 6 Regular Signal Regiments
2 Information Technology Units
1 Communication Technology Unit
1 Cyber Security Unit
1 Volunteer Regiment
School of Signals
1 EW Squadron | ||
The Sri Lanka Signals Corps (SLSC) a combat support corps of the Sri Lanka Army, responsible for providing military communications, information technology and electronic warfare support. The corps is made up of Ten regular regiments and one volunteer (reserve) regiment. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. It is headquartered at Army Cantonment, Panagoda.
Contents
- History
- Regular Regiments
- Volunteer Regiments
- Training School
- Independent Signal Squadron
- Past Colonel Commandants
- Notable members
- Alliances
- References
The Colonel Commandant of the SL Signals is Maj Gen K R P Rowel RWP USP ndu psc, who is also the Chief Signal Officer & DG Research Analysis Projection & Development of the Sri Lanka Army. Brig MT Waidyaratne is Commander Signals Brigade operationally in charge of all classic 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 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 Army Cantonment, Panagoda.