In a groundbreaking move, the Sri Lanka Navy has made history by assigning its first group of women to sea duties. Accordingly, the first group of Navy women including two (02) lady officers and five (05) women sailors were attached to SLNS Gajabahu this morning (11th May 2023), marking a momentous step forward.

Breaking barriers and shattering traditional gender roles, the Navy offered the Inshore Patrol Craft Handling Foundation Course in October 2022. During the course held at the Naval and Maritime Academy ad Naval Dockyard Trincomalee, these lady officers and women sailors sharpened their practical and theoretical knowledge on Navigation, Seamanship, Engineering, Electricity, Combat Medicine, Firefighting and Communication.

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 defense in the time to come.