President's Guard

President's Guard
President's Guard VIP Escort Land Rovers
Active	30 October 2008 - 30th April 2015
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	Close Protection
Size	1623
Regimental Centre	N/A
Anniversaries	30 October
Engagements	Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major General K.J. Alwis

The President's Guard was a former unit of the Sri Lanka Army. It was responsible for the security of the President of Sri Lanka along with the President's Security Division which is the close protection agency of the President. It was made up of personnel from other regiments and units assigned for President's protection.

Formation

Since the formation of the Ceylon Army, the Army had allocated personal for the protection of the Governor General and the Prime Minister during peace time and during emergencies. A permeant detachment of Armored Cars were present at Temple Trees during 1960's and 1970's.

Prior to the formation of the President's Guard, army personnel served as a squadron under the President's Security Division since 1996 and focused on key tasks including the perimeter security of Presidential residence, Temple Trees. 5th Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps was the first army unit chosen to be in the dedicated security of the President of Sri Lanka during the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Lieutenant Kushan Perera spearheaded the close protection team of Kumaratunga during her visit to the United States and the United Kingdom. Later the strength of the unit was increased with personnel from the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and the Gajaba Regiment.

After the unit's formation in 2008 all army personnel came under the command of this unit independent from the President's Security Division which is primarily made up of and commanded by Police personnel.^[1] This unit has participated in the Independence Day and victory day parades of 2009.

In April 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the President's Guard.^[2]

References

External links

Armed Forces of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Army Sri Lanka Navy Sri Lanka Air Force

Regiments and corps of the Sri Lanka Army

Combat Arms	Armoured Corps Light Infantry Sinha Regiment Gemunu Watch Gajaba Regiment Vijayabahu Regiment Mechanized Infantry Commandos Special Forces Rifle Corps National Guard

Support Arms	Artillery Engineers Signals Corps

Support Services	Military Intelligence Engineer Services Regiment Service Corps Medical Corps Ordnance Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps of Military Police General Service Women's Corps Pioneer Corps

Disbanded	Ceylon Mounted Rifles Ceylon Planters Rifle Ceylon Railway Engineer Ceylon Rifle Colombo Town Guard National Service Regiment Post and Telegraph Signals Rajarata Rifles Ruhunu Regiment President's Guard

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