Women paratroopers fly high in the Army

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

For the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka Army a woman officer and two women soldiers passed out as paratroopers and made their first aerial jump at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Uhana, Ampara on Friday. Capt M.N.S. Vidanage of the Fourth battalion of the Women’s Corp, Coporal R.A.N. Hemanthi of the Third Battalion and Corporal K.S. Kahawala of the Fourth Battalion of the Women’s Corp passed out as Paratroopers successfully completing the 52 Basic Parachute Course conducted at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Uhana, Ampara.

Eight officers and 31 from other ranks passed out at the parade following the one-month course. Major General A.D.G.A. Jayawardena, Master General of Ordinance was the chief guest. Several Senior Army and Air Force officers and family members of the officers and other ranks were present.