Remembering a great soldier of Sri Lanka Signal Corps

Pictures courtesy SLSC

The late Colonel Charles Reginald de Silva ED, FCIS was a loving husband, caring father, true and sincere friend and is remembered by all his juniors.

His parents were Ahangama Liyanage Don Charles de Silva of Galle and Clara Josephine Gunasekera of Habaraduwa. He studied at St. Aloysius College, Galle.

He became the First Ceylonese Sergeant in the Signal Corps of Ceylon Engineers to be commissioned as an Officer (1941) and served during World War II in the British Ceylon Army.
He attended Army training in India and Wales, UK. Then he moved to civilian life in the late 1950’s.

Many of Colonel Charles Reginald (CR) de Silva’s military memorabilia including photographs were donated by his children to the Sri Lanka Army Signals regiment. They can be viewed at the museum at Panagoda Defence Academy

He then served as Chairman of The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association (1958-1960 and 1964-1967).  He was appointed as the 56th Secretary of the Department of Post & Telecommunication.

He was awarded with a scholarship to the Royal Postal Service, United Kingdom
Many of Colonel Charles Reginald (CR) de Silva’s military memorabilia including photographs were donated by his children to the Sri Lanka Army Signals regiment. They can be viewed at the museum at Panagoda Defence Academy.

The children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Colonel C R de Silva wish the Sri Lanka Army a Happy 75th Independence Day!