Doves of peace...

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

Dressed in olive green uniforms and courageously undergoing physical training sessions in the ever -increasing heat in Mullaitivu, the recent batch of woman recruits to the Sri Lanka Army are preparing to change their lifestyles and turn new leaves in Sri Lankan military history.

They will be messengers of peace and harmony to the North and South. “Recruitment, training and duties are all the same” said Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake. The Army has a set of criteria to follow in recruitment and accordingly they invite all Sri Lankan citizens to apply for these vacancies. These citizens need to be fit to serve the country under any circumstances and guard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country at any given time. “Anyone joining the Army is trained to defend the country from enemy forces. The Sri Lanka Army has not restricted or limitaed selections based on ethnic, religion or social strata. Whoever is fit for the job will be recruited,” Lt. Gen. Ratnayake said.

A recruitment program in the Army consists of a screening period where applicants details are cross- checked before the final decision is taken. A similar procedure is applied for these women as well. “During the first few weeks new recruits are given a orientation period. This is to give them time to adapt to change to the disciplined and tough life in the Army. On an average in any recruitment, out of hundred new recruits three to four people or little more would drop out unable to cope with he new conditions. ” said Lt. Gen. Ratnayake.

In the past and even now Sri Lankan Tamil persons serve in the Army at different levels. “Even in the past there have less persons coming to join the Sri Lanka Army and that has been the nature. When there were requirements for new recruits we announced for Sri Lankans to join. There were positive responses from residents in areas like Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu following awareness programs. And those fit for the job we recruited,” he added.

“The new women soldiers recruited in to the Army would do a perfect job in reconciliation and social integration efforts of the Government,” he said.

New women soldiers recruited early last year from Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mannar areas had their passing out parade on March 21, 2013. During their four-month long initial military training, in addition to physical training sessions, they underwent IT training, Sinhala and English learning, training for Civil-Military relations, reconciliation and several other spheres of learning, connected to co-existence and harmony. These woman soldiers were deployed in different parts of the North as civil affairs coordinators and clerks. On August 26 last year a batch of 45 Tamil and 10 Sinhala woman soldiers were enlisted into the regular force of Sri Lanka Army at a function held at the Security Forces Headquarters Wanni.

Altogether there are more than 400 Tamil women recruited to the Army. The newest batch undergoing training at the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters. The batch includes 29 female recruits enlisted to the Army.

The inaugural session of the training course began on March 17 at the Security Forces Headquarters- Mullaitivu under the patronage of Security Forces Commander of Mullaitivu Major General Jagath Dias.

“They are not trained differently to other women soldiers. They will be given the same tasks and thus the new recruits need to go through the standard training,” said Major General Jagath Dias.

“These communities underwent a difficult period during LTTE control before 2009 and the enemy they saw was those terrorists. We had to specifically guide the new recruits to understand that the enemy is any party who poses a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland,” Maj. Gen. Dias said.

These brave women, who won a battle against life and death in their youth are now preparing to transform ethnically distant societies in to one Sri Lankan community.

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‘We enjoy our new tasks’

[Kanojika]

Kanojika, a 20 year old girl from Keppapilavu in Mullaitivu was very happy about her new job though it required long hours of work and a disciplined environment. “I would prefer to be posted closer home but I'm ready to take on the responsibility,” said Kanojika.

Just like all the other girls in her batch Kanojika prefers to speak in Sinhala and polish her language skills. These girls even tell Physical Training Instructors to conduct sessions in Sinhala. A slight misunderstanding in the orders given either to turn to left or right would end in the squad being in a mess – all burst in to laughter.

Keppapilavu is her Appa's birth place and she lives with her parents and two sisters, Kanojica being the middle girl of the family.

Along with all the other villagers, Kanojika also returned to Keppapilavu to settle down and start a normal life with her sisters and parents. Just like many villagers of Keppapilavu her father did paddy cultivation to earn the livelihood as season permits. He has to cultivate five acres of paddy land. Today even in Mullaitivu, it was difficult for her parents to meet ends meet and the steady job Kanojika has obtained helps the family in a big way.

“A few years ago, soon after school I followed a nursing course in Vavuniya when I went to live with one of my aunts in Vavuniya when terrorist activities were becoming intense,” she said. A student from Vidyananda College in Mullaitivu, Kanojika has studied in the Bio stream for her Advance Levels. “I hope to study further while being on the job. And to me this job gives an opportunity to make my life better,” she said.

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[Shyamala]

Thyagarajah Shyamala (24) hails from Raththota, Matale. This young woman joined the Army because she took a liking for its professionalism and discipline. “ I saw the advertisement in the newspapers and felt like applying. My uncle is living in Vishwamadu and he supported me during the interviews,” Shymala said.

“I have never been to Mullaitivu earlier. The environment is different but is a satisfying environment. I prefer a job where I can work hard and at the same time be rewarded,” she said. Her home in Raththota is affected by landslides. Many of the houses in her neighborhood have been destroyed because of landslides.

“When our house got destroyed we all moved to Matale and we are now living in a rented house. My family needs my support,” said Shyamala.

“Both my parents came to see me during the training sessions. They saw where I stayed and how we are trained and they were happy with my decision” she said. As Shyamala explained on Saturdays and Sunday, their off days, they go on short distance trips to Kovils or temples in this area.

“Many people have a misconception about the Army. But since the day we enrolled nothing happened to threaten our safety or individuality. Discipline is strictly followed,” she said. This is a job of my preference. It gives me a stable job with dignity, Shyamala said with some pride.

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[Mayuri]

Twenty-year- old Mayuri hailing from Udayarkattu had a different story. “One of my cousin brothers had seen pictures on my Facebook page on the initial days of the recruitment. I was already following the training session at that time. He had gone to my home and screamed at Mayuri's mother. “Because of what my cousin brother , my mother got worried and persuaded me to come back.

I didn't want to leave the job and go. But my senior officers here spoke to my mother and explained all details and procedures and how rules and regulations work for the safety of the woman soldiers. Later she was convinced of the good side of this job. Now we are okay,” she said with a bright smile. Srikanth Mayuri is her full nam. Her mother and brother are the only two people who live at home.

During the trouble times, Mayuri was sent to Batticaloa to live with her relatives. She is enthusiastic about becoming multi-lingual. She simply said “Training hondai,” mixing English and Sinhala words that she knew well. With just one month in to learning Sinhala, Mayuri likes to talk to her peers in Sinhala to brush up her skills.

My brother is still studying in Barathi Vidyalaya in Red Barna in the Mullaitivu district and mother needs a lot of support. This job is something that I like to do and it also helps to improve the living conditions of my family. So now we are very happy,” she said.