Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps - History

History

The beginnings of the Corp goes back 29 July 1881 when stretcher beater company was initially raised as a part of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers, this soon became the Ceylon Volunteer Medical Corps later becoming part of the Ceylon Defence Force, being deployed during world wars.

Soon after the disbandment of the Ceylon Defence Force after independence, Ceylon Volunteer Medical Corps became a part of the Ceylon Army Volunteer Force with Lt. Col Sydney Jayawardene was the first Commanding Officer. But in October 1950 Ceylon Army Medical Corps in the Regular Force of the Ceylon Army was created. At its start it had 3 Officers and 20 Other Ranks were drawn from the wartime CVMC. Lt. Col H.C Serasighe, OBE was the first Commanding Officer of the Regular Medical Corps. That year a 10 bedded camp reception station was opened at the former British Military Hospital of the Royal Army Medical Corps, shortly it was upgraded to a 30 – bedded service hospital. The corps was renamed once again in 1972 as the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps when Sri Lanka became a republic.

The corps has served the in under different circumstances in its post-independence history. It had assisted civil medical services during natural disasters and takes over operations of national & provincial hospitals when its doctors and staff goes on stick. The corps has treated battle casualties and has itself received casualties when its personal come under attack during combat operations in the 1971 Insurrection and Sri Lankan Civil War.