Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps

Last updated
Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps
SLAWC cap badge.jpg
Cap badge
Active1979–present
CountryFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
AllegianceFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
BranchFlag of the Sri Lankan Army.png  Sri Lanka Army
TypeAuxiliary corps
Role Combat service support
Size4 battalions
Regimental Headquarters Borella, Colombo
Motto(s)The Powerful Mind is the Strongest Weapon
Engagements Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Colonel CommandantMaj. Gen. S. Kasturimudali
Centre CommandantBrig. J.K.R. Jayakodi
Notable
commanders
Lt. Col. A.W. Thambiraja [1]
Lt. Col. Kumudini Weerasekara

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]

Contents

History

It 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

Regular battalions

Volunteer battalions

Notable members

Order of precedence

Preceded by Order of Precedence Succeeded by

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps, Sri Lanka Army". Sri Lanka Army. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007.
  2. In conversation with Chathurika Bombuwala - 24 July 2023 Archived 8 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine . chathamhouse.org
  3. "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.
  4. 1 2 3 "WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINES". dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 "The spirit of comradeship". dailynews.lk. 8 March 2007.
  6. History of 1 SLAWC - Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps
  7. "Females who dare to take that leap". sundaytimes.lk. 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010.
  8. "1st batch of Tamil female soldiers pass out in Sri Lanka". news.lk. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
  9. "95 Tamil women enlisted to Army". dailymirror.lk. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020.
  10. "Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps Empowers 95 Women Ex-combatants". thesundayleader.lk. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
  11. "Army Born 1st Women Deminers graduated". sundaytimes.lk. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  12. "Womanly vigour". dailynews.lk. 22 January 2018.