Women's Corps symposium begins

A symposium themed 'Women: the bedrock of peace and sustainable development" is being organised by the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps was inaugurated this morning under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

The symposium is  organised to  to provide a platform to promote learning, networking and interaction of women in academia, civil society and the military, for peace and sustainable development. The symposium will also offer a space to discuss opportunities on the contributions women can make toward peace and sustainable development. The role the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps and potential contributions towards the peace and sustainability will also be deliberated.

Statistically women outnumber men in Sri Lanka and should be given an opportunity to make a greater contribution to the nation said Prof. Jeeva Niriella, Head of Department of Public and International Law at the University of Colombo. Women's contribution is essential to reachsustainable development she claimed, pointing out that women need empowerment not handouts. 

The Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC) established 1979 has grown to a strength of 5000 officers and ranks, serving in regular andvolunteer formations today. The SLAWC is deployed to all areas in Sri Lanka. "We are a silent service" said Maj. Nayomi Rathnayaka, pointing out the Women's Corps subject to need, deploy troops to support a range of operations. A number of SLAWC personnel are currently deployed on Peacekeeping duties in Central Africa, South Sudan and Lebanon. During the Eelam Wars 25 women soldiers were killed in action and 4 wounded.