Mechanized Infantry Regiment

For the Indian Army regiment, see Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

The Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR) is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of four regular battalions and a volunteer battalion. Establish in 2007 by Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka its battalions are equipped with Type 63 and WZ551 armoured personnel carriers make up the Mechanized Infantry Brigade. It is the youngest Infantry regiment of the Army.

Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Active	14 February 2007 - Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Army
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Size	4 regular battalions and 1 voluntary battalion
Regimental Centre	Dambulla
Nickname(s)	MIR
Motto(s)	ජවයෙන් පෙරමුණට (Sinhala: Forward with Vigor)
Colors
Anniversaries	14 February
Engagements	Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Centre Commandant	Brig A M A Abeysinghe RWP RSP USP psc
Brigade Commander	Brig J M A Jayasekara RSP USP
Colonel of the Regiment	Maj Gen Chandana Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc
Notable commanders	Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka General Jagath Jayasuriya Maj Gen Milinda Peiris Maj Gen Priyanka Fernando
Insignia
Flag

History

Norinco Type 89 (YW534) Armored Fighting Vehicle of MIR

The Mechanized Infantry Regiment was raised on the battlefield on 14 February at the divisional headquarters of the 53 Division at Kodikamam, Jaffna in order for the army to have specialized mechanized infantry units to deploy in battle, instead of using regular infantry along with armoured personnel carriers as it had done before. Three battalions where formed with officers and men from 3rd Light Infantry Battalion, 10th Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, the 4th Gajaba Battalion and 5th & 6th Reconnaissance Regiments of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.^[1]

The 53-4 brigade which is made up of the newly formed battalions has since been designated as the Mechanized Infantry Brigade.^[2]

Units

A WZ551 of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment.

Brigade

• Mechanized Infantry Brigade

Regular Battalions

• 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
• 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
• 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion

Volunteer Battalions

• 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Converted from 21st Sri Lanka National Guard on 1 June 2010)

Order of precedence

Preceded by Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment	Order of Precedence	Succeeded by Commando Regiment
Preceded by Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (with armored vehicles)	Order of Precedence (with armored vehicles)	Succeeded by Sri Lanka Artillery (with Guns)

See also

• Sri Lanka Army

References

1. New Mechanized Infantry Regiment Awards Badges to the First Batch, Sri Lanka Army Archived 2008-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Innovation to Engage" the Medal Awarding ceremony of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment, Ministry of Defence

External links and sources

• Sri Lanka Army