The skies were once unchartered territory. Today this frontier has been reached and conquered. Jumping out of a plane at an altitude of 14,000 feet is not something familiar to many of us. There are a special league of daring and determined women in the Army Womens Corps. These amazing ladies have risen above many challenges to dominate the skies with a sense of pride. I met up with a few of them in-between their skydiving routines.
Captain Maneesha Wickremesinghe has 215 jumps to her credit. She enlisted in the army in 2008 from Sangamitta Ballika, Galle lured by the desire to wear the green uniform. It was in 2014 that the army was making plans to send a team of women parachute jumpers for the Defence Services Meet under the advice of Major General Dharmaratne, paving the way for bold young women to volunteer and do the impossible. The women are trained to complete 5 basic jumps ranging from 800- 1000 feet and making progress to 5000 feet. It is then that they earn the right to wear the coveted golden wings on their uniform. Maneesha has also followed advanced training in England.
Seated next to the Captain was another young soldier from Moneragala. Her tough exterior soon gave way to an amiable smiling persona. Lance Corporal Anusha Kumari is the perfect text book image of a woman soldier. This young girl has 311 jumps to her credit and has the distinction of being the first woman in Sri Lanka to qualify in the art of flying with a wing suit, apart from her parachute skills. The wind suit is capable of offering the flyer many strategic combat in the event of a military oriented mission. Anusha joined the army in 2009 and like her airborne colleagues followed her basic parachute course at the Kuda Oya training school run by the Commando Regiment. In addition to this she has qualified as a PT instructor and presently serves in the Northern Province. Anusha is thankful to the army who has sent her to Dubai and Germany to represent the nation. The women parachute team members have competed at the 41 World Military Parachute Championships, where 64 other nations also competed.
The other three lady officers in this daring outfit are Captain Danesha Muthumali, Lieutenant Anupama Ratnayake and 2nd Lieutenant Dilakshi Balasuriya. Hailing from Ambalangoda Capt. Danesha Muthumali is an old girl of Dharmashoka Vidyalaya, and enlisted in the army in March 2010. Her highest jump was done from 12,000 feet and she has 47 jumps to her credit. She is presently attached to Army Head Quarters.
All these dynamic ladies after completing the one month skydiver course have trained hard and engage in consistent practice. Jumping out of a plane is no easy task as you must reach your landing point with accuracy. Once you leave the aircraft there is no room for error. One must be focused and in peak physical condition.
The ladies told me their parents were surprised at first on their decision to be skydivers, but are now very proud of their bold daughters. They have dazzled crowds at army outdoor events and made their mark at the Independence Day celebrations flying in formation. These military angels of the sky are testament to the equal opportunity that the army offers to their female soldiers in career progress and skills development. The present chairman of the parachute committee is Brigadier Senaratne who always supports his team, and encourages them to excel.
Globally the person credited with making the modern parachute is Louis Lenormand in 1873. He is the man who coined the word “parachute”- from the Latin word parare (to resist) and the French word chute (fall). Later in 1912 Captain Albert Berry of the US Army made the first parachute jump, although jumps were made before from hot air balloon, during World War 1. Anne Thompson is the first woman to travel by parachute in June 1913. The world record for a woman skydiver is held by Cheryl Stearns of America who has 15,560 jumps.
The positive attitude of our Sri Lankan Army women parachute team is proof that the impossible can be overcome. Their unity and teamwork is another key aspect of their success. These spectacular parachuting women have redefined what it means to reach greater heights in life.
