Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps
Encyclopedia
The Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps (SLAPC) is a (reserve
) regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Established as manpower reserve to be utilized in times of strikes and union action to maintain the functionality of essential services and other state functions, other such units that existed then and has since been disband include the Post and Telegraph Signals
(PTS) and the Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps
(CREC). With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War
the regiment has taken up combat duties including that of Assault Pioneer
s.
and was based on the Royal Pioneer Corps
. Lt Col M.W.F. Abayakoon of the Cadet Corps
was appointed its Commanding Officer. The main reason to raise this unit with a large strength was the frequent breakdown of essential services at that time due to workers unrest, strikes etc. Members of the corps used to handled harbour duties and driving of public transport. The Pioneer Corps was able to bring back normalcy in the harbour and other establishments, and the country was saved from starvation as foreign ships were threatening to bypass the Colombo harbor due to delays in unloading as a result of constant trade union action. When the workers’ unrest in the city was settled, in 1962 the Pioneers were employed in the Kantale Sugar Corporation to perform duties when the workers their went on strike.
In 1964 the pioneers assisted the field engineers of the Sri Lanka Engineers
in constructing the Dambulla – Galewela Road and Katunayake Airport Road.
Since 1971 the Pioneers have also been employed in internal security duties all over the Island.
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
) regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Established as manpower reserve to be utilized in times of strikes and union action to maintain the functionality of essential services and other state functions, other such units that existed then and has since been disband include the Post and Telegraph Signals
Post and Telegraph Signals
Post and Telegraph Signals was a regiment of the Ceylon Army. Raised in 1955 with staff from the Department of Post and Ceylon Telegraph Department. The government hoped to minimized the effects to the Post and Telegraph services in the event of trade union action by mobilizing the personnel...
(PTS) and the Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps
Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps
Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps was a regiment of the Ceylon Army. Raised in 1955 with staff from the Ceylon Government Railway. The government hoped to minimized the effects to the Post and Telegraph services in the event of trade union action by mobilizing the personnel attached to this unit....
(CREC). With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
the regiment has taken up combat duties including that of Assault Pioneer
Assault Pioneer
An Assault Pioneer is an infantry soldier who is responsible for:* The construction of tools for infantry soldiers to cross natural and man-made obstacles as well as breaching of enemy fortifications;...
s.
History
The Ceylon Army Pioneer Corps was raised on 5 July 1959 with a large strength of 14,000 men. The unit is part of the Volunteer ForceSri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force is the principal and Volunteer reserve force component of the Sri Lanka Army. It is a collective name for the reserve units and the Sri Lanka National Guard of the Sri Lankan Army. The SLAVF is made up of part-time Officers and soldiers paid at a similar rate,...
and was based on the Royal Pioneer Corps
Royal Pioneer Corps
The Royal Pioneer Corps was a British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks.The Royal Pioneer Corps was raised on 17 October 1939 as the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps. It was renamed the Pioneer Corps on 22 November 1940...
. Lt Col M.W.F. Abayakoon of the Cadet Corps
National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The National Cadet Corps is the Sri Lankan military cadet corps and is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the Sri Lanka. Formally the Ceylon Cadet Corps It is open to high school students on voluntary basis and has a history of more than 126 years as of 2007. The officers are...
was appointed its Commanding Officer. The main reason to raise this unit with a large strength was the frequent breakdown of essential services at that time due to workers unrest, strikes etc. Members of the corps used to handled harbour duties and driving of public transport. The Pioneer Corps was able to bring back normalcy in the harbour and other establishments, and the country was saved from starvation as foreign ships were threatening to bypass the Colombo harbor due to delays in unloading as a result of constant trade union action. When the workers’ unrest in the city was settled, in 1962 the Pioneers were employed in the Kantale Sugar Corporation to perform duties when the workers their went on strike.
In 1964 the pioneers assisted the field engineers of the Sri Lanka Engineers
Sri Lanka Engineers
http://fieldengineers.lk/The Sri Lanka Engineers a combat support arms of the Sri Lanka Army which provides combat engineering. It is made up of ten Regular Regiments and one Volunteer Regiments. Headquartered at Army Cantonment, Panagoda...
in constructing the Dambulla – Galewela Road and Katunayake Airport Road.
Since 1971 the Pioneers have also been employed in internal security duties all over the Island.