From path breakers to professionals

Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force celebrates 135 years of growth:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Army's pioneer wing, the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), turns a grand old 135 years, notching many landmark moments that have seen a bunch of wannabe military guys moulding themselves into a professional body that is very much part of the Sri Lanka Army today. And they continue to evolve, seeing themselves being transformed into knowledge based, technology driven, gender unbiased force in the near horizon.

The SLAVF heading towards professionalism targeting the best among the younger generation to serve the country, says SLAVF Commandant, Major General Channa Goonetilleke, explaining that the need for a wide range of expertise, for the Volunteers to stand up among the best servers to the nation, is a top priority. "The 135th Anniversary will be celebrated as an 'Investment for Tomorrow'' for the benefit of the society, Army and the Volunteer Force," he adds.

The precursor to the Volunteer Force was a mere rifle club in the colonial period later converted into the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers on April 01, 1881. Historical chronicles available with the SLAVF state that the transformation was based on a proclamation issued by the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Douglas in the government gazette of April 1, 1881.

As history records, thirteen days later, Lieutenant Colonel John Scott Armitage was appointed as the Commanding Officer. In recognition of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers (CLIV), the Prince of Wales (The Late King Edward VII) had accepted the Honorary Colonelcy of the Regiment and permitted the use of his motto 'Ich Dien' and his personal insignia by the Regiment.

As the ranks got filled up over time, the CLIV raised several companies in the main towns of the country. A valuable adjunct was the formation of a Cadet Battalion to encourage the military movement in schools, which developed later into the Ceylon Cadet Battalion and finally as the National Cadet Corps.

"The Volunteers have a very elite history where our some esteemed members of the Force, were historical figures who lead the country," claims Maj. Gen. Goonetilleke, explaining that it is still the main fact that hold the high spirit of soldiering and keeping to the finest forms.

If the success of an organisation is measured in terms of its contributions to society, then the Volunteers have reached veritable heights with contributions made by many of its esteemed members, giving leadership to the country. To name a few, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, D.S. Senanayake, was an active member of the Volunteer Artillery, former Prime Minister, General Sir John Kotelawala, was from the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers, education Minister of the Sri Lanka's first Cabinet, Major E.A. Nugawela, was an active member of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers. Adding more to the list, is the first Commanding Officer of the third (Volunteer) Battalion, the Gemunu Watch, Colonel C.A. Dharmapala, who served the country as a Member of Parliament and later as the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Security Advisor to the President from 1977-1979.

Former minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Plantations, Major Montague Jayawickrama, and former Labour Minister, Capt C.P.J Senevirathne (1977-1983), were active members of the Ceylon Volunteer Light Infantry and Ceylon Cadet Corps respectively. Deputy Minister of Defence from 1989 - 1992, General Ranjan Wijeratne, was also a noted officer in the Volunteers who restored the Planters' Rifle Corps.

Evolution of the Volunteers included turning points such as the South African War (1899- 1902), formation of Ceylon Defence Force (1910-1939), World War II (1939 - 1945). In 1910 the Ceylon Defence Force was raised under Ordinance No. 8 of 1910, which comprised all volunteer units.

The Volunteer Force was heavily used during the 'Hartal' of 1953. But it recorded its first casualty during the 1971 uprising, when Senior Sergeant Jothipala of the second Volunteer Sinha Regiment was killed in action at Thulhiriya on 05 April 1971. The Volunteers were mobilised for internal security during the uprising.

Volunteer Battalions were also tasked with 'Task Force Anti-Illicit Immigration' from 1964 onwards. During the 1971 insurrection, a new regiment was raised to meet the additional requirement of man-power. This was the National Service Regiment, which was subsequently disbanded and most Officers and soldiers absorbed into other Volunteer Units.

In 1972, Battalion became officially known as the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as Sri Lanka became a republic on May 22 of that year. With the upsurge of violence in 1983, consequent to the killing of 13 Sri Lanka Army personnel in the North and with the failed political settlement in 1994, the Volunteer Force has been called out to active duty and has remained in active duty since then.

"The SLAVF was not confined to secure reclaimed lands during the war but were active in the battles," explains Maj. Gen. Goonetilleke, elaborating that today the SLAVF is a mega institute with 2898 officers and 68,449 other ranks belonging to 101 battalions.

In diversifying their capacities, the SLAVF is focusing on areas such as sports as it is one of their strongest points at the national level, armed with talented personnel in par with the international standards.

The trend of the world is to form a volunteer reserve of professionals who will be called out for duty as required. "In the post war era, to be an effective part of developing the national economy, SLAVF need to convert themselves towards more professionalism," emphasises Maj. Gen. Goonetilleke.

The SLAVF master plan is not only rope in new recruits, but convert the existing human resource to expertise in their respective fields, while in service and post retirement. "The benefit our men and women have is that years before their retirement they get an opportunity to be ready for new employment. And we are not targeting commercial security.

They will be trained and skilled to suit supervisory to middle and higher level management opportunities," he says, explaining that in a job market where there is a dearth of suitable professionals against the demand, the volunteer men and women will have a better chance considering their professional background.

In their attempts to strengthen the Volunteers, Maj .Gen. Goonetilleke says the most important facts considered, for both in service and new recruits are high professionalism and capability and not gender, ethnicity or religion. "Just like the Sri Lanka Army, we are an equal opportunity institute," he adds.