Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing Explained
The Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing (SLAF Women's Wing) is the women's branch of the Sri Lanka Air Force, it was formed in 1983[1] which contains the female members of the Sri Lanka Air Force, both airwomen and lady officers.[2] Only unmarried women can join. Women were first admitted to the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1972 when female officers joined the Volunteer Air Force.[3] [4] Initially, women could not become pilots.[5] However, in 1998 women were recruited to train for the elite pilots' wing to replace losses to the Tamil Tigers in their insurgency. 800 women applied for the 33 available places to fly transport planes.[6]
Officers Commanding of SLAF Women's Wing include:
- Air Vice Marshal G. D. Perera (? – 1 August 2002)[7]
- Group Captain M. H. Karannagoda (2 August 2002 – ?)
Notes and References
- Web site: Women's Wing. airforce.lk. https://web.archive.org/web/20090808063233/https://airforce.lk/pages.php?pages=womens_wing. 8 August 2009.
- Web site: SLAF holds passing out parade at China Bay. dailynews.lk. 14 January 2019.
- Web site: Life in the Air force; A chat with one of the first women to join the SLAF. dailymirror.lk. 30 November 2021.
- Web site: Air Force to increase women wing to 30 percent – AF Commander. 1 July 2023. CeylonToday. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20230701033445/https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/breaking_news/Air-Force-to-increase-women-wing-to-30-percent-AF-Commander/108-262181. 1 July 2023.
- Raj K. Mehta, Lost Victory: The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran, p. 135, Pentagon Press, 2010 .
- Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada, "Sri Lanka: Organization and structure of the Sri Lankan Airforce including ranks, units, squadrons and the duties assigned to different personnel; location of squadrons and departments", UNHCR Refworld, Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 14 March 2001.
- Web site: 2002 Sri Lanka Air Force Annual Performance Report . . 6.
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