Sri Lanka Marine Corps

Sri Lanka Marine Corps (ශ්‍රී ලංකා මැරීන් බලකාය) was formed in 2016 under the assistance of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of the United States Marine Corps in November 2016 and received further training from the Commando Regiment of Sri Lanka Army.

The first group consisting of 164 Marines including six officers and 158 sailors passed out on 27 February 2017 in Naval Base SLNS Barana in Mullikulam in a ceremony attended by the President Maithripala Sirisena, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne alongside the tri-force Commanders and senior officers. On July 29, 2017, Vice Admiral Wijegunarathna declared open the new Marine Headquarters, SLNS Vidura in Sampoor, Trincomalee.

Role
Marines are responsible for carrying out amphibious operations and play a greater offensive role compared to the Naval Patrolmen that play a more defensive role protecting naval bases. While the more elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) specializes in clandestine infiltration into enemy territory, the marines launch aggressive seaborne assaults often with the intelligence collected by the SBS that land before them. They are also trained for jungle warfare and urban warfare when pushing further inland as well as visit, board, search, and seizure operations.

History
Sri Lanka Marine Corps was founded by Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the former Chief of Defence Staff of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. and Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy. In 2016, Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne was able to take part in the US Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium in San Diego, California. Here naval leaders discussed new trends in amphibious operations. The Sri Lankan commander had already envisioned establishing a Marine element to enhance naval operations and the conference was a springboard for the new mission.

With the arrival of the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD-25) to Trincomalee, the men of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began an exchange of training for local sailors drawn from the Patrolman Branch. The rigorous training would test the sailors mentally and challenge them physically. Endurance training is a key element of a Marine.

Marines represented Sri Lanka in RIMPAC-2018 international military exercise where they were attached to HMAS Adelaide of the Australian Navy. At RIMPAC-2022 they engaged in amphibious exercises with elements of Malayasian Paratroopers, Tonga Defence Service and the Australian Army.

Training
The first group of Sri Lanka Marines received training from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of the United States Marine Corps in November 2016. At the conclusion of this course, a group consisting of 1 officer and 40 marines received weapons handling, rappelling and battle obstacle crossing training at the Commando Regiment Training School, Uva Kudaoya. The marines were also trained in the use of the M-16 assault rifle, which became their primary weapon. Emphasis was also placed on night time operating capability, combat medicine, life saving and underwater EOD (explosive ordnance disposal).

Former Director Marines

 * Rear Admiral U. I. Serasinghe WWV, RSP, USP, psc