The Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC) is a corps of the Sri Lanka Army. The corps was raised in 1979.[1][2] The regimental headquarters of this corps is at Borella, Colombo.[3] Initially, members of this corps were employed in non-combat staff duties but later were employed in field duties.[1][4]
| Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge | |
| Active | 1979–present |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Branch |  Sri Lanka Army |
| Type | Auxiliary corps |
| Role | Combat service support |
| Size | 4 battalions |
| Regimental Headquarters | Borella, Colombo |
| Motto(s) | The Powerful Mind is the Strongest Weapon |
| Engagements | Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel Commandant | Maj. Gen. S. Kasturimudali |
| Centre Commandant | Brig. J.K.R. Jayakodi |
| Notable commanders | Lt. Col. A.W. Thambiraja[1] Lt. Col. Kumudini Weerasekara |
History
editIt was a dream of General Denis Perera to have women in the Sri Lanka Army, he took the initiative to establish this corps and he is called the father of this corps.[5] This corps was created with the help of the British Army's Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) and 3 women were sent to Britain for eight months long officer training who returned to Sri Lanka in August 1979 and were taken into the women's corps in November of the same year. Lieutenant Colonel A.W. Thambiraja who was later promoted to Brigadier was the first commanding officer of this corps. Instructors from Britain's WRAC came to Sri Lanka in 1980 to train Sri Lankan females for women's corps and 10 women were trained into the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa for one month, and after passing out they were directly given the corporal rank. In 1981 45 females were recruited and were given training of clerical works and exchange operators, this was the first batch of females who were in the rank private, the second batch of female privates was taken in the same year who were also given training on clerical duties and also signal duties. In 1984, the fifth batch of female privates was taken, and this batch was given light machine gun training, this was the first batch of the women's corps where weapon training was conducted. In the late 1980s 8 women were taken into the Vadamarachchi Operation, this was the first combat operation where women's corps members participated.[6]
Till 2006 a total number of 19 members of this corps were killed in the Sri Lankan civil war.[5]
In December 2009, 3 women's corps members passed out from the Commando Regiment Training School as paratroopers.[7]
In 2013, four years after the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, 95 Tamil women were recruited into the army for the first time.[8][9][10]
In 2022, 54 women's corps members were trained in de-mining.[11]
Units
editRegular battalions
edit- 1 Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 1 SLAWC (formed in 1979)
- 7 Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 7 SLAWC (formed in 2010)
Volunteer battalions
edit- 2(V) Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 2(V) SLAWC (formed in 1996)
- 3(V) Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 3(V) SLAWC (formed in 1997)
- 4(V) Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 4(V) SLAWC (formed in 1999; this battalion was later disbanded)
- 5(V) Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 5(V) SLAWC (formed in 1999; this battalion was later disbanded)
- 6(V) Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, 6(V) SLAWC (formed in 2009; this battalion was later disbanded)
Notable members
edit- Lieutenant Colonel Kumudini Weerasekara - The first women's corps officer who was battalion commander in 1992; she joined the army in 1979.[1][4]
- Major Ramani Kangaraarachchi - The first retired women's corps officer (retired in 1995 after 15 years of service).[12]
- Corporal M.L.K.R. Wilson - The first women's corps soldier of the army who was enlisted in 1980.[4]
- Susanthika Jayasinghe - Olympic silver medal winner at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Nadeeka Lakmali - Silver medalist at the Asian Championships and South Asian Games.
- Dilhani Lekamge - Silver medalist Asian Championships.
- Nadeesha Ramanayake - Gold medalist at the Asian Championships.
Order of precedence
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007.
- ^ In conversation with Chathurika Bombuwala - 24 July 2023 Archived 8 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. chathamhouse.org
- ^ "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps HQ Complex Enters into its New 5-Storied Building". news.lk. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINES". dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b "The spirit of comradeship". dailynews.lk. 8 March 2007.
- ^ History of 1 SLAWC - Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps
- ^ "Females who dare to take that leap". sundaytimes.lk. 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010.
- ^ "1st batch of Tamil female soldiers pass out in Sri Lanka". news.lk. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
- ^ "95 Tamil women enlisted to Army". dailymirror.lk. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps Empowers 95 Women Ex-combatants". thesundayleader.lk. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
- ^ "Army Born 1st Women Deminers graduated". sundaytimes.lk. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Womanly vigour". dailynews.lk. 22 January 2018.