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 headquartered at the Regimental Centre in Polhengoda, Colombo. Its members wear white webbing and white gaiters with barrack dress.
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 The Military Police force carries out the following missions:
Ceremonial duties These ceremonial functions are performed mainly by the President's Ceremonial Guard Company. The corps performs presidential guard duty, including guard mounting at the President's House in Colombo and the President's Pavilion in Kandy. MPs assigned to the President's Ceremonial Guard Company wear a special ceremonial uniform known as the Presidential scarlet. A foot guards-type scarlet uniform is worn with a bayonet-mounted L1A1 SLR when mounting the outer guard, while a mounted guard-type scarlet long coat with gold girdles, shoulder mail and lance, in the tradition of the Governor's Bodyguard, is worn when mounting the inner guard. MPs in their ceremonial scarlet uniform provide guard mounting at state and military ceremonies, as well as motorcycle honour guards. MPs are assigned to stand vigil with reverse arms using L1A1 SLRs during remembrance services, state and military funerals.
Policing missions 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 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 war. Counter-intelligence operations are also carried out by MPs within the army.
History
With the establishment of the Ceylon Army in October 1948, a Provost Section was raised. The section then consisted of one 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 unit status, and the commanding officer was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
With the later rapid expansion of the army, the corps also grew gradually, and it maintains provost sections at every army detachment.
In 1979, the military police assumed ceremonial guard duties, such as guard mounting at the President's House, and the President's Ceremonial Guard Company was formed to meet this requirement.
Specialized branches, such as the Special Investigations Branch and the Traffic School, were established by the provost to counter crimes, misconduct, and violations of road rules by army personnel on public highways. The Special Investigations Branch has now expanded into a Special Investigation Unit, operating directly under the Directorate of Provost Marshal.
The introduction of the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps necessitated the maintenance of discipline among women soldiers, and the Provost Section of the MP Women was established in 1983.
Organization 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
Notable members Major Basil Henricus – Ceylonese boxer who competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Sergeant Chaminda Ruwan Yakandawala – VIP motorcycle escort rider who died saving the life of General Sarath Fonseka from a suicide bomber.
Order of precedence
See also Sri Lanka Army Law enforcement in Sri Lanka
References
External links Sri Lanka Army Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police