Sri Lanka Police Mounted Division
Encyclopedia
The Sri Lanka Police Mounted Division is the mounted division
the Sri Lanka Police. The responsibility of the division is to conduct safe policing of crowd control
at large public order events and provide ceremonial escorts. The police mounted division is under purview of the DIG
- Colombo Range and control of by a SSP - Mounted Division and has a strengths of two Inspectors, four Sub-Inspectors, 10 sergeants, 34 constables with 60 horses.
in St Sabasitan Hill, Colombo
. At its formation the unit was limited to British personal and consisted of eight mounted sergeants and constables, who were later promoted to sub inspector grade. Gazetted Officers were also trained in equestrian. During Royal visits mounted policemen joined in with the Ceylon Mounted Rifles
in providing mounted escorts stating in 1925. With the disbandment of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles in 1931 the mounted police took on the role of providing mounted escorts on ceremonial occasions including independence celebrations in 1948. Following independence three Ceylonese was admitted to the unit for the first time.
On the morning of March 22, 1952 Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake
was ridding suffered a stroke and fell (dieing several hours later) from the Police mare ‘Chitra’ at the Galle Face Green
, he was accompanied by Inspector Eddie Grey, who would later become the first Ceylonese head of the mounted police. In 1956, the police mounted division was formed with a Sub-Inspector, two Police Sergeants and 22 Police Constables with 23 thorough bred horses imported from Australia.
red uniform (unique to the mounted division), which is a red tunic, black pantaloon
s, with a gold cross belt, a black custodian helmet
.
On a lesser ceremonial occasion they may wear full-dress mounted white uniform(unique to the mounted division), which includes white tunic; trousers; medals; with gazetted officers uniform adorned with black epaulette
s with rank insignia, a black leather cross belt with the lion head badge with whistle and chain, police badge affixed black leather pouch and sword with a white coloured pith helmet
. White gauntlets gloves are worn.
Gazetted officer
s carry swords drown, while sergeants and constables carry lances with a police pennant
.
When on crowd control and patrol, mounted police wear standard khaki uniform, with riding helmets, white gauntlets gloves and riding boots.
Mounted police
Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. They continue to serve in remote areas and in metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may be picturesque or ceremonial, but they are also employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage and...
the Sri Lanka Police. The responsibility of the division is to conduct safe policing of crowd control
Crowd control
Crowd control is the controlling of a crowd, to prevent the outbreak of disorder and prevention of possible riot. Examples are at soccer matches, when a sale of goods has attracted an excess of customers, refugee control, or mass decontamination and mass quarantine situations . It calls for gentler...
at large public order events and provide ceremonial escorts. The police mounted division is under purview of the DIG
Deputy Inspector General of Police
A deputy inspector general of police is a high ranking senior police officer in several countries.- India :Deputy inspector general of police or additional commissioner of police is a one-star rank in the Indian Police Service...
- Colombo Range and control of by a SSP - Mounted Division and has a strengths of two Inspectors, four Sub-Inspectors, 10 sergeants, 34 constables with 60 horses.
History
The unit was formed in 1921 at the former premises of the Royal College ColomboRoyal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
in St Sabasitan Hill, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. At its formation the unit was limited to British personal and consisted of eight mounted sergeants and constables, who were later promoted to sub inspector grade. Gazetted Officers were also trained in equestrian. During Royal visits mounted policemen joined in with the Ceylon Mounted Rifles
Ceylon Mounted Rifles
Ceylon Mounted Rifles was the only cavalry regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed...
in providing mounted escorts stating in 1925. With the disbandment of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles in 1931 the mounted police took on the role of providing mounted escorts on ceremonial occasions including independence celebrations in 1948. Following independence three Ceylonese was admitted to the unit for the first time.
On the morning of March 22, 1952 Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1947 to 1952.-Early life:...
was ridding suffered a stroke and fell (dieing several hours later) from the Police mare ‘Chitra’ at the Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green
The Galle Face is a promenade which stretches for half kilometre along the coast in the heart of financial and business district of Colombo, Sri Lanka...
, he was accompanied by Inspector Eddie Grey, who would later become the first Ceylonese head of the mounted police. In 1956, the police mounted division was formed with a Sub-Inspector, two Police Sergeants and 22 Police Constables with 23 thorough bred horses imported from Australia.
Units
- Mounted Division HQ & Stables, ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
- Training Stables, Nuwara EliyaNuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
- Stables, KandyKandyKandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
- Police College, KalutaraKalutaraKalutara is a resort town located approximately 40 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka.- Overview :Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River . In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince...
Duties
- Ceremonial Mounted Escorts for
- Heads of states
- Visiting Royals and foreign VIPs
- Ambassadors and High Commissioners when presenting letter of credenceLetter of CredenceA letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
- Ceremonial opening of parliament
- Crowd control during;
- National day celebrations
- Esala PeraheraEsala PeraheraEsala Perahera is the grand festival of Esala held in Sri Lanka. It is very grand with elegant costumes. Happening in July or August in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and nicely decorated elephants. There are fire-dances,...
- May DayMay DayMay Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
- Sports events
- Demonstrations (disperse unruly crowds)
- Patrol
- Colombo city
- Beach
Uniform
For important ceremonial occasions, mounted policemen wear the full-dressFull dress
Full dress is a category dress codes that refers to most formal clothing available in Western society.-Civilian:For a civilian, during the Victorian and Edwardian period, this corresponded to a frock coat in the day, and white tie at night...
red uniform (unique to the mounted division), which is a red tunic, black pantaloon
Pantaloon
Pantaloon or Pantaloons may refer to:*Pantaloons, a style of trousers*Pantaloon Retail India, a large retailer in India*The Pantaloons, an English touring theatre company*Pantaloon, a character in the Harlequinade-See also:...
s, with a gold cross belt, a black custodian helmet
Custodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
.
On a lesser ceremonial occasion they may wear full-dress mounted white uniform(unique to the mounted division), which includes white tunic; trousers; medals; with gazetted officers uniform adorned with black epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s with rank insignia, a black leather cross belt with the lion head badge with whistle and chain, police badge affixed black leather pouch and sword with a white coloured pith helmet
Pith helmet
The pith helmet is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of cork or pith...
. White gauntlets gloves are worn.
Gazetted officer
Gazetted officer
A gazetted officer is a police officer in the Sri Lanka Police Service whose name is published in the Sri Lankan Government gazette. As such, they are similar to commissioned officers in the armed forces....
s carry swords drown, while sergeants and constables carry lances with a police pennant
Pennon
A pennon was one of the principal three varieties of flags carried during the Middle Ages . Pennoncells and streamers or pendants are considered as minor varieties of this style of flag. The pennon is a flag resembling the guidon in shape, but only half the size...
.
When on crowd control and patrol, mounted police wear standard khaki uniform, with riding helmets, white gauntlets gloves and riding boots.