Sri Lanka_ Breaking gender stereotypes and adopting unorthodox approaches in a world moving forward, the Sri Lanka Navy has assigned their first all-women naval group to sea duties. The team consists of 2 lady officers and 5 women sailors who were linked to the SLNS Gajabahu; an advanced offshore patrol vessel, on the 11th of May 2023. Stepping into a new era of gender equality and women empowerment, the Sri Lanka Navy has taken commendable steps towards giving lady officers and women sailors more opportunities within the naval workforce.
Established on the 9th of December 1950 upon the passing of the Navy Act for the formation of the Royal Ceylon Navy, the Sri Lanka Navy is the country’s most vital defense force due to the island’s geography and strategic position in the Indian Ocean.
Although the Sri Lanka Navy demands a majority of male-dominated roles and missions due to conventional norms within the society, a need for women’s representation within the Naval Arm has been acknowledged in the present day.
Making strides in enabling lady officers and women sailors to play a larger role within the Sri Lanka Navy, the 24th Commander of the Navy, Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne initiated an Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) Handling Foundation Course in October 2022 for a group of women officers and sailors. The course was conducted with the prime motive of enhancing practical and theoretical skills in navigation, seamanship, Engineering, Electricity, Combat medicine, Firefighting, and communication in order to prepare women sailors and officers to be more experienced in Naval affairs. The course was also aimed at promoting women’s involvement within the Navy while also giving opportunities to women officers and sailors who are willing to serve on ships.
The Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) Handling Foundation Course was held in the Naval and Maritime Academy at the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee, where 13 participants were shown the ropes and were taught the many elements of Naval activities.
Keeping in line with nurturing women sailors and lady officers to take on more challenging roles in traditionally male-dominated spaces such as serving on ships, the Sri Lanka Navy has also featured a group of women sailors in the Navy Band while a group of 2 lady officers and 1 women sailor completed a basic diver module in September 2022.
Giving women sailors and officers a holistic experience in all naval and maritime affairs, the Sri Lanka Navy has hopes to deploy IPC Handling crews to all-women groups in the future, to inspire women’s empowerment as well as to establish an equal-opportunities defense force in Sri Lanka.
