Historical Event - First Gunner Observers who serve on UN Observer Mission

Captain K W P Gunaratna (Rtd) of 3rd Field Regiment Ceylon Artillery was the first ever Gunner Officer who represented the Ceylon Artillery during United Nations Pakistan Observer Mission in India and Pakistan (UNIPOM) in 1965, Captain A Rathnayake of Ceylon Artillery joined the same mission few months later. Officers from about 20 nations participated for the mission.

It was a historical moment since Sri Lanka had not participated in UN missions before and foreign travel was rare due to strict travel restrictions.

The government had selected 10 x Commissioned Officers from three services to serve on the United Nations Observer Mission with 6 x Officers from the Army and 2 x Officers each from the Royal Ceylon Air Force and the Royal Ceylon Navy.