Several RAF Squadrons were sent to Ceylon. Another airfield was rapidly built at Koggala near Galle and several temporary airstrips were built across the country, with the largest at Colombo Racecourse Airstrip. Air defences were expanded starting in 1941 with the RAF occupying the civil airfield at Ratmalana near Colombo with its station headquarters set up at Kandawala. The fixed land defences consisted of four coastal batteries at Colombo and five at Trincomalee these were established prior to the war. Admiral Somerville tookover the house of the King's Harbour Master adjoinging the Victoria Arcade Navy officers mess. Naval headquarters was moved to HMS Lanka and its operations room took form in an underground center and Admiral Layton established his headquarters at the Secretariat. The army headquarters were established at the Colombo Museum building, while the Fighter Operations Room was setup at Bishop's College, Colombo. Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon with Air Vice Marshal John D'Albiac Air Officer Commanding and Admiral Sir James Somerville appointed commander of the British Eastern Fleet. The Royal Navy maintained naval installations in Trincomalee and the Royal Air Force (RAF) had established an aerodrome in China Bay, Trincomalee long before the war.Īfter the fall of Singapore the Royal Navy's East Indies Station was moved to Colombo and then to Trincomalee. The Ceylon Defence Force and Ceylon Navy Volunteer Reserve were mobilised and expanded. The British had occupied the coastal areas of the island since 1796, but after 1917 the colony had no regular garrison of British troops. Further information: British Empire in World War II An RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber takes off from Colombo Racecourse in Ceylon during the Second World War.Īfter the outbreak of the Second World War, in the British Crown Colony of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), the government of Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka assured the British King and his government of its continued support.

Homo in world war 2 navy