Army Women Play Major Role in National Women's Day at Polonnaruwa

Woman soldiers of the Army showcasing their varying professional skills in different spheres stole the attention of spectators who attended the National Women's Day celebrations at Polonnanruwa Royal College grounds on Thursday (8), organized jointly by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Sri Lanka Women's Bureau and the Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E) to coincide with the International Women's Day.

Themed on 'She empowers and lights the path of progress', the arrangement, comprised of a mega exhibition, symbolic of the empowerment Army women have received in the fields of cyber security and safety from theft and damage, architectural, designing and constructing skills in the engineering domain, ceremonial and policing duties during security and social missions, healing abilities in 'Healthy Army - Healthy Nation' project, legal affairs and gender issues, sport industry, nursery care abilities, airborne skills of women, martial arts displays, cultural feats, etc.

For the first time in Polonnaruwa, two lady officers, Captain I.B.M.I Wickramasinghe and Captain I.D.D Muthumali, together with one Army woman soldier and 6 Air women of the Sri Lanka Air Force added thrill and excitement to the occasion by jumping off from a height of about 7000 ft in the sky, sending shock waves among everyone present. The para troopers was assisted by pilots of Sri Lanka Air Force who hovered above Polonnaruwa Royal College grounds amidst roars of applause.

Similarly, an eye catching display of physical drills as well as a martial arts display showcased by 150 Army women towards the end of the ceremony added colour to the chain of events in the national event. Adding aesthetic flavour to the flow of the ceremony, a group of about 55 women in the Army staged a cultural show and a band display.

The exceptional showpieces of Army woman soldiers stole the public attention and brought fame to the organization as evidenced in the roaring applause they received at the end of each spectacle.

Mrs Chandrani Bandara, Hon Minister of Women and Child Affairs as the Chief Guest opened the exhibition and participated in the proceedings.

District Secretary for Polonnaruwa, Mr. Ranjith Ariyarathne, Commander, Security Forces - East Major General Santhusitha Pananwala, Commander FMA-East Major General Manoj Mudannayake and Director, 'Pibidemu Polonnaruwa', Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe (Rtd) along with a host of other distinguished invitees were present at this national ceremony.