26th March 2023 09:51:40 Hours
The team of 3 lady officers and 43 women soldiers proved their skills in front of the UN high profiled distinguished delegation on the invitation of commander Engineer Division at Army Camp Mattegoda The inaugural of the Field Engineering Basic Module and Humanitarian Demining Course for Sri Lanka Women soldiers commenced on last year at the Vavuniya- based Field Engineer Brigade and 10 field engineers located Mailaddy –Jaffna.
After completing the training this team of 3 lady officers and 43 women soldiers proved their skills in front of Colonal Commandant & Chief Field Engineer of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers Maj Gen M K Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu and General Officer Commanding Engineer Division Maj Gen Lanka Amarapala RWP RSP ndc psc at the Home of Sappers’, Maththegoda army camp on 22 nd March 2023.
The aim of the course was to acquaint the operational redlines to achieve the desired goals of the future efforts of the Sri Lanka Army. By extracting significance to this demining role in Sri Lanka Army was initiated to train women cadres in the demining in Sri Lanka Army and importance of women in demining is proven gender equality, effective employability and community-based intelligence etc. For this programme Sri Lanka Army, Office of Chief Field Engineer, Corp of Engineers took the weightage with the direction of the Commander of the Army in line with the Army's 'Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025'.
During the course, their day started before the 1st light, and training included physical training, lectures, practical sessions etc., with mine handling technologies in universal standards. Well-phased programmes were conducted by Army combat Engineer experts handled and converted these soft hands, skillful and robust, to hold life with a decision to operate mines. These graduated young army women can now handle humanitarian demining anywhere in the world.
