The spirit of comradeship

Ex-Army Women and International Women’s Day:

An Army is made up of human beings, Therefore a fellow feeling must grow up which results in a spirit of comradeship. So that, however much a leader may inspire his people, however perfect the disciplines, the morale will be hard and unsympathetic if the warmth of the comradeship is not added to it. Comradeship is based on affection and trust which produce an atmosphere of goodwill and feelings of interdependence.

- Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

FITTING GESTURE: It was an evening filled with pride and, comradeship. There were no sorrow but only a tinge of emotion and regret. It was organised by a group of ex Army women who did not think they were a spent force after retirement. Their motto was to serve the nation in a crisis even in a small way and give of their best to be as one with their comrades in active service.

Carrying this spirit with them the members of the Ex Army Women’s Association headed by Captain Victoria Lakshmi made a pilgrimage to the Mailapitiya Ranaviru Remembrance Park from Colombo last week with their husbands and children to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.

To them there could not have been a more fitting gesture to coincide with Women’s International Day. They really made the parents of their fallen comrades not abandoned. On the contrary it was to make them and their children proud for making supreme sacrifice for the country.

Among the 22,000 names of those who laid down their lives for the country were 19 names of female soldiers engraved on a gleaming cenotaph erected in a remote corner of the tiny piece of land allocated to Sri Lanka Army Women’s’ Corps.

The beautifully laid out park on the banks of the Mahaweli and nestling in the hills of Kandy, provided a serene setting.

The commemoration commenced with a two minute silence. The chief guest at the event Governor Central Province, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa hailed it as an exemplary and historical event being the first Ex-Service Association to commemorate their comrades.

After a brief Dhamma sermon by a Sanga from the area, the next of kin of women soldiers killed in action and the association members who lost their husbands fathers and brothers, participated in lighting oil lamps at the positions where their names were engraved.

They also did not forget to invite their sister association members of the Air Force and Navy along with members of Ranaviru Family Counselling Service headed by Air Vice Marshal Harry Goonatilake.

All came to attention silently when the Last Post was played at sunset.

Apart from the families of the nineteen women soldiers killed, there were Major Kumuduni Mutaliff, Captain Niroshani Fernando Sgt. Ruhunuge whose husbands laid down their lives for the country present with their children together with Sgt. Manapitiya and Major Ramani Kangaraarachchi who lost their brothers.

Finally they returned home with the “Together For All” spirit thanking the valuable support given by the Chairman Ranaviru Seva Authority, Colonel Lalith Gunaratne and his staff, Kandy Brigade Commander, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara and the rest for their support, not forgetting Lt. General Denis Perera, Father of the Women’s Corps who was instrumental in creating the hallowed Ranaviru Park for the country.Women Soldiers who were killed

L/Cpl. Rupawathi M - 1996.08.09 Nirveli; L/Cpl. De Silva E.N. - 1997.01.02 Thirunalveli; L/Cpl. Kumuduni K.P. - 1997.01.02 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Swarnalatha R.C. - 1997.01.02 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Sriyani Deepika S. - 1997.03.06 Vavnathive

L/Cpl. Ajantha R.O. - 1997.03.06 Vavnathive; L/Cpl. Kaluarachchi M.N. - 1997.12.02 Murukkan; L/Cpl. Abesinghe K.N. - 1997.12.02 Murukkan; L/Cpl. Darmawardena N.D.P. - 1998.02.06 Colombo; L/Cpl. Nayana Thushari U.D. - 1998.02.06 Colombo; L/Cpl. Ariyawathi - 1999.01.25 Kopai; L/Cpl. Dilini Rathnayaka P.K. - 1999.03.13 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Malkanthi P.R. - 1999.03.13 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Wijesundara W.M.D. - 1999.03.13 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Wijewardena T.V.D. - 1999.10.25 Uilamkulam; L/Cpl. Rathnayaka R.M.P. - 1999.10.25 Jaffna; Sgt. Pushpamala D.B.S - 2000.05.24 Jaffna; L/Cpl. Damayanthi M. - 2000.05.24 Jaffna and L/Cpl Sumudu Gunatilake -2006.04.25 Colombo.