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Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police

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Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police
Active30 October 1949 - Present
Country Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Army
TypeMilitary Police
RolePolicing
Provost
Counter-intelligence
Size8 units
(156 officers, 3504 servicepersons)
Regimental CentrePolhengoda, Colombo 5
Motto(s)Exemplo Ducemus
(Latin: By example, shall we lead)
Colors   
Anniversaries1 October (Regimental day)
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War
Insurrection 1987-89
1971 Insurrection Civil war Against Tamil Tigers (1976-2009)
Websitearmy.lk/slcmp
Commanders
Centre CommandantCol RD Sallay
Provost MarshalMajor General Clifford De Zoysa
Colonel of
the Regiment
Maj Gen AL Illangakoon
Insignia
Flag
Sri Lanka Military Police for Buddha's Birthday in Jaffna, Sri Lanka 14 May 2014

The Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP) is the branch of the Sri Lanka Army responsible for the policing of service personnel and providing a military police presence on service property, operations and exercises. It is made up of three regular regiments and with headquartered at Regiment Center Polhengoda, Colombo. Like other military police around the world, they continue to wear white webbing with barrack dress but white gaiters.

Policing in the Sri Lankan Army is carried out mainly by SLCMP and by the Regimental Police. The Sri Lanka Navy is policed by the Provost Branch. The Sri Lanka Air Force is policed by the Air Force Police (AFP).

Missions

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The Military Police force carries out the following missions:

Ceremonial duties

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These ceremonial functions are performed mainly by the President’s Ceremonial Guard Company.

Policing missions

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  • Maintenance of order and a high standard of discipline by provision of garrison police facilities: Consists of monitoring, maintaining and, if necessary, re-establishing discipline and military order. This also involves controlling stragglers and refugees in times of war.
  • Traffic control.
  • Criminal investigations.

Security missions

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  • Prevents and deters any threat to or attack against the personnel and property of the armed forces. MPs also provide VIP motorcycle escorts, perform close protection missions, and escort classified documents and money transports.
  • Tactical military police support to the Army in all phases of military operations and guarding prisoners of wars.
  • Counter-intelligence operations are also carried out by MP's within the army.

History

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With the establishment of the Ceylon Army in October 1948, a Provost Section was raised. The section then consisted of 1 officer and 16 NCOs. On 1 October 1951 the establishment was increased to that of a company, and Capt E.R.P De Zilwa was appointed officer commanding. In 1959 the company was elevated to the level of the unit, and the commanding officer was promoted lieutenant colonel.

With the rapid expansion of the army in recent years, the corps has also been gradually increased and has provost sections at every army detachment.

In 1979 the military police had the rare honour of performing the ceremonial guard duties, such as Guard Mounting at the President’s House and to meet this requirement, the President’s Ceremonial Guard Company was formed.

Specialized branches such as the Special Investigations Branch and the Traffic School were included to the establishment by the provost in order to counter various crimes and also misconduct and infringement of road rules on public highways by army personnel. The Special Investigations Branch has now expanded to a Special Investigation Unit, directly functioning under the Directorate of Provost Marshal.

The introduction of the Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps gave necessity to maintain the discipline of the women soldiers, and the Provost Section of MP Women was established in 1983.

Organization

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The overall command of the Corps is exercised by the Directorate of the Provost Marshal (which in turn reports to the Directorate of Personnel Management at Army headquarters) and the Centre Commandant.

Unit Established Commanding Officer Base
1st Regiment 1 October 1949 Major R M N Rathnayaka Polhengoda, Colombo 5
2nd Regiment Lt Col R Withanarachchi USP Giritale
3rd Regiment 22 March 1991 Lieutenant Colonel WMTGAP Wijekoon Galkulama, Anuradhapura
4th Regiment 19 April 1995 Major RRP Perera Kankesanthurai
5th Regiment 10 April 2010 Major IMK Suddagala Lsc Kilinochchi
6th Regiment 21 April 2011 Major J S jayathilaka Mullaitivu
7th Regiment 12 November 2015 Major S P Kasthuriarachchi Diyatalawa
Special Investigation Unit (SIU) 6 June 1997 Colonel AMR Abeysinghe Polhengoda, Colombo 5
SLCMP Training Centre 2002 Colonel D.M.A. Bandara Giritale

Ex-Military Policemen's Association, administered by its President Douglas Walisundara and Secretary, D.U.A. Jayasooriya.

Notable members

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Order of precedence

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Preceded by Order of Precedence Succeeded by

See also

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