place in Diyatalawa. Infantry companies were formed in cities and towns with local volunteers. Recruitment Recruitment took place at regiment and unit level, with the commanding officer of the regiment deciding on both the officer and other ranks recruited into their respective units, following an application and an interview by a recruitment board. This meant that regiments retained exclusiveness such as the Ceylon Mounted Rifles and the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps which was limited to Europeans and not opened to native Ceylonese. Training As volunteer units, the CDF personal served in a part-time basis. They would carryout dills and practice during a weekend per month and would undertake a training camp of two week duration once a year at Imperial Camp in the Diyatalawa Garrison. Commandants Notable members The Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake, CTG - First Prime Minister of Ceylon. General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala CH, KBE, CLI - Third Prime Minister of Ceylon Captain Henry Pedris, CTG - A prominent figure executed by the British. Major Hon. E. A. Nugawela, CLI - former Minister of Education (of the first cabinet 1948), Member of Parliament & State Council Major General Anton Muttukumaru OBE, ED, CLI - First Ceylonese Commander of the Ceylon Army (1955–1959) Major General H. W. G. Wijeyekoon, OBE, ED, CLI - Former Commander of the Ceylon Army (1960–1963) Major General Richard Udugama, MBE, CLI - Former Commander of the Ceylon Army (1964–1966) Major General B.R. Heyn, CLI - Former Commander of the Ceylon Army (1966–1967) General D. S. Attygalle MVO, CLI - Former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977) Lieutenant Basil Arthur Horsfall, VC, ELR - only Ceylonese to win a Victoria Cross Brigadier Douglas Ramanayake - first commanding officer, Sri Lanka Engineers Brigadier T. S. B. Sally - Former Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army Colonel Fredrick C. de Saram, OBE, CA - first commanding officer, Sri Lanka Artillery and the leader of the Attempted military coup in 1962 Bombardier Gratien Fernando, CGA - leader of the Cocos Islands Mutiny Former decorations & medals From its formation the Ceylon Defence Force used British military decorations. Ceylon Medal 1818 Ceylon Overseas Volunteer Service Oval Medallion First World War Ceylon Commemorative Medal Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Meritorious Service Medal Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal Volunteer Officers' Decoration Efficiency Decoration (Ceylon) Efficiency Medal (Ceylon) See also Sri Lanka