Page 78 - QDG Vol. 9 No. 2 CREST

76 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
The 1st Reconnaissance Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
Troops of 1st Reconnaissance Regiment were mainly engaged in the tasks to control the spread of COVID-19 in Sri
Commanding Officer of the Regiment, and Major MMDSK Bandara psc took over duties as Second in Command of 1st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Presently, Captain HGRD Wijewardhana functions as the Adjutant.
Being located in close vicinity to the country’s economic hub, 1st Recon- naissance Regiment is entrusted with the task of rapid deployment of troops to the high security zones and vulnerable points of the Western Province. For this task, the Regiment was reinforced with the troops of the Commando Regiment as well. Apart from this, the Troop located at SEEDUWA with the Special Forces Regiment was tasked to facilitate the rapid deploy- ment of troops at the Bandaranaike International
ments, two troops of B Squadron (with BTR 80 As) joined the eighth edition of a bilateral joint exercise “Mitra Shakti” between the Sri Lanka Army and the Indian Army. It was commenced on 3rd October 2021 at Combat Training School, Ampara in Sri Lanka. The aim of the exercise was to promote the close relations between the Armies of both the countries and enhance interoperability and share the best practices in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.
The 3rd Combat Convoy Team, consisting of Officers and Soldiers of the Regiment with BTRs, was deployed for the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Mali on 25th March 2021. They conducted a number of successful convoys, and the United Nation persons were provided with safe passage. As their tenure is scheduled to be terminated on 25th March 2022 the 4th team of the Combat Convoy Company is currently undergoing training to depart the country to relieve the 3rd Company.
Further, 2 x 27 Troops participated in a tank firing exercise organised by the Armoured Brigade at KALPITIYA range with 2 x BTR 80 As and 2 x WMZ 551s.
Lanka in the year 2021, in operational commitments. Whilst accomplishing all of the tasks laid out before them, the Regiment performed exceptionally well during the course of the year.
As per the present deploy- ment, the Headquarters Squadron, A and B Squad- rons are located within the Regimental Headquarters at Rock House, Colombo. 1st Troop, B Squadron is deployed with the RHQ Battalion of the Special Forces Regiment SEEDUWA and 2nd Troop, B Squadron is deployed at Ordinance Regimental Headquarters DOMBAGODA. C Squadron is located at the VP Camp – KERAWALAPITIYA.
addition to
Lieutenant Colonel W D S D Wick- ramaarachchi RWP RSP USP psc assumed the duties as the 37th
Airport and the surrounding high Security Zone, during emergencies.
Amidst the heavy operational commit-
two troops of B Squadron joined the eighth edition of a bilateral joint exercise “Mitra Shakti” between the Sri Lanka Army and the Indian Army