Navy assigns its first group of female officers and sailors to sea duties

The Sri Lanka Navy has assigned its first group of women to sea duties.The group consisting of two female officers and five women sailors were attached to SLNS Gajabahu on 11 May 2023.

The Navy offered women the Inshore Patrol Craft Handling Foundation Course in October 2022.During the course, held at the Naval and Maritime Academy, at the Naval Dockyard,

Trincomalee, these female officers, and women sailors, enhanced their practical and theoretical knowledge on navigation, seamanship, engineering, electricity, combat medicine, firefighting and communication, the Navy said.

“Following the progressive footsteps of regional Navies, the Sri Lanka Navy embraces the inclusion of women in sea duties. Thus, the Navy is expected to reap the full benefits of this inclusive and diverse approach to national defence in the time to come,” the Navy said in a press release.