Plans are underway to enable female officers to head Sri Lanka’s tri-forces, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.
Addressing the Parliament on Monday (Dec 04), State Minister Tennakoon said in Sri Lankan history, women have played prominent roles.
He said, however, they are yet to receive equal status in many areas, including the tri-forces and Divisional Secretariats of key areas of religious prominence such as Anuradhapura and Kandy.
Stating that Sri Lanka needs to do more to ensure equal status for women, the State Minister said with the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the ministry was taking all measures to change this situation in the tri-forces.
State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon revealed that the government is planning to enable women to head the Army, Navy and Air Force in Sri Lanka.
“Currently, a woman can only reach the rank of major, especially in the army, in Sri Lanka. At present, women can only work until the age of 45 years or for 20 years in the Army,” he said.
The State Minister further said that new legislation has been created and has been handed over to the Attorney General’s Department to provide equal opportunities for female officers.
The government is planning to change military laws to allow women to get promoted and in time head the three forces, he said.
The State Minister of Defence also commended the Sri Lanka Navy for having already taken the first step to provide equal opportunities for female officers. (NewsWire)