With the intensified war situation of the North and East, the 5th Battalion of Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps was raised on 10th February 1999 at Security Force Headquarters Jaffna under the guidance and direction given by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General CS Weerasooriya RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG.
Major HGW Padmasiri of 2nd Battalion Gamunu Watch was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the unit. Major MWVP Jayarathne was posted from 2nd Battalion of Gamunu Watch as the first Second In Command of the unit. Staff Sergeant Swarnalatha RB was appointed as the first officiating Regimental Sergeant Major of the unit.
The unit was initially formed with 11 x Officers and 234 x Soldiers including Senior Non Commissioned Officers and Non Commissioned Officers.
On 10th July 1999 the Battalion was shifted to a new establishment in Vasavilan. It was declared opened by Security Force Commander Jaffna Major General LCR Gunawardana RSP USP ndc IG.
Due to the prevailing operational condition in the Jaffna Peninsula, the Battalion was shifted to the Cement Factory premises in Kankasanthurai on 30th May 2000. As directed by Security Force Commander Jaffna, Battalion Headquarters was again relocated at the Kankasanthurai Police Station at Grid Reference 192101 in the Manipai map.
Since 1999, the Battalion had been performing operational duties in the Jaffna Peninsula and subsequently, was redeployed in the Eastern province on 04th April 2006, on a direction from the Commander of the Army. The Battalion Headquarters was established at the Monkeybridge Camp with a strength of 30 x Officers and 884 x Other Ranks. Major MHP Napagoda SLAWC was the first Lady Officer to command the Battalion.
At present the Battalion Headquarters is established in Clappanburg Camp Trincomalee. The present strength of the unit is 31 x Officers and 548 x Other Ranks. Present Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel DLDD Jayasooriya SLAPC.
Duties Perfomed by 5(V) SLAWC
| a. |
|
Clerks and Computer Operators. |
| b. |
|
Manning of road blocks and body checking. |
| c. |
|
CIMIC activities. |
| d. |
|
Ushering. |
| e. |
|
Other ceremonial duties. |
Key Appointment Holders
Commanding Ofiicers
| Ser |
Name |
From |
To |
| 1. |
Major HGW Padmasiri GW(V) |
10.02.1999 |
10.02.2003 |
| 2. |
Lieutenant Colonel DMUN Dassanayake SLAPC |
10.02.2003 |
12.05.2004 |
| 3. |
Lieutenant Colonel A Kumasaru SLE(V) |
12.05.2004 |
17.01.2005 |
| 4. |
Lieutenant Colonel RMA Rathnayake SLASC (V) |
17.01.2005 |
01.05.2009 |
| 5. |
Major MHP Napagoda SLAWC |
01.05.2009 |
04.03.2012 |
| 6. |
Lt Col DLDD Jayasuriya SLAPC |
2012.04.06 |
2016.07.11 |
| 7. |
Maj BHS Fernando SLAWC |
2016.07.11 |
2019.04.21 |
| 8. |
Maj WRL Withanage SLEME |
2019.04.21 |
2020.12.05 |
| 9. |
Lt Col WCL Rathnapala psc SLAC |
2020.12.06 |
2022.01.05 |
| 10. |
Lt Col WHS Hettiarachchi RSP USP SLLI |
2022.01.06 |
To Date |
Second In Commands
| Ser |
Name |
From |
To |
| 1. |
Major MWVP Jayarathna GW |
10.07.1999 |
15.11.2002 |
| 2. |
Major BP Gunawardhana GW |
15.11.2002 |
03.11.2003 |
| 3. |
Major BM Wijesundara SLAGSC |
03.11.2003 |
26.08.2004 |
| 4. |
Major RMA Rathnayaka SLASC |
26.08.2004 |
17.01.2005 |
| 5. |
Major MAS Meegahakumbura SLLI |
17.01.2005 |
19.09.2006 |
| 6. |
Major HTDAM Witanage SLAPC |
19.09.2006 |
14.05.2007 |
| 7. |
Major IDD Fernando SLAPC |
14.05.2007 |
15.01.2008 |
| 8. |
Captain SAEMS Samarathunga SLAWC (V) |
04.04.2009 |
10.10.2009 |
| 9. |
Major GC Gamage SLAWC (V) |
10.10.2009 |
20.01.2011 |
| 10. |
Major WLA Kularathna SLAWC (V) |
20.01.2011 |
05.09.2011 |
| 11. |
Major LKDLC Mudalige SLAWC (V) |
05.09.2011 |
26.10.2012 |
| 12. |
Maj RPS Kooragodage SLAWC |
2012.10.26 |
2014.07.11 |
| 13. |
Maj JMNS Jayasundara SLAWC |
2014.07.11 |
2014.12.10 |
| 14. |
Maj BHS Fernando SLAWC |
2014.12.10 |
2016.10.31 |
| 15. |
Maj MPK Gamage SLAWC |
2016.10.31 |
2019.04.21 |
| 16. |
Maj DSA Mullage SLAWC |
2019.04.21 |
2020.07.17 |
| 17. |
Maj SAT Sewwandi SLAWC |
2020.07.17 |
2021.10.01 |
| 18. |
Maj WDU Samaraweera SLAWC |
2021.10.02 |
To Date |
