Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps

Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps
Active September 1, 1979 - Present
Country Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Army
Role support unit
Size 7 Units
Regimental Centre Colombo.
Motto "savibala sith avi bala deth"
Colors green and brown
Anniversaries September 1 (Regimental Day)
Engagements Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Colonel Commandant Maj Gen S.G. Karunaratne RWP RSP USP psc
Colonel of
the Regiment
Col R.A.S. Ranasinghe USP
Notable
commanders
Lt.Col.Kumudini Weerasekara
Insignia
Identification
symbol
viharaamaha devi

The Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC) was formed on September 1, 1979 as an unarmed, noncombatant support unit. Currently the corps consists of two regular units and five volunteer (reserve) units and is headquartered in Colombo 08.

Overview

The Corps was set up with the assistance of the Women's Royal Army Corps of the British army. It was identical in structure to its parent organization. It's first generation of officer cadets was trained in Britain and soldier recruits were trained locally. Soldier candidates were required to be between eighteen and twenty years old and to have passed the General Common Entrance (Ordinary level) examinations, while the Officer candidates must have passed the Advanced Level. Enlistment entailed a five-year service commitment (the same as for men), and recruits were not allowed to marry during this period. In the sixteen-week training course at the Army Training Center at the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy, cadets were put through a program of drill and physical training similar to the men's program, with the exception of weapons and battle craft training. Female recruits were paid according to the same scale as the men, but were limited to service in nursing, communications, and clerical work. In late 1987, the first class of women graduates from the Viyanini Army Training Center were certified to serve as army instructors. But, from late 1987 - after hostilities began, the first batch of women graduates from the British Army's Women's Corps Center certified to serve as Army Instructors.[1] Women officers and other ranks have served in varied specialized fields in the Service as control tower operators, electronic warfare technicians, radio material teletypists, automotive mechanics, aviation supply personnel, cryptographers, doctors, combat medic, lawyers, engineers and even aerial photographers.[2]

To meet the operational requirements in the field areas, the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Women’s Corps was also raised. A few officers from the regular counterpart were attached to this unit to organize the command structure. They are currently employed in active combat duties in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

Many officers, starting with Lieutenant Colonel A.W. Thambiraja, were appointed to command this unit from time to time. The first women’s corps officer to command the unit was Lieutenant Colonel Kumudini Weerasekara in 1992.[3]

Units

Regular Army

Volunteers

(v) Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps

Notable members

Order of precedence

Preceded by
Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps
Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Sri Lanka Rifle Corps

See also

External links and sources

References

  1. "Sri Lankan Army Women's Corps". About, Inc. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  2. "An officer and a lady: You've come a long way, lass.". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
  3. "Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 2007-01-28. Retrieved 2007-02-04.