Ex-Army Women’s Association President bags Asian Arab Award

Friday, 5 April 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lt. Col. Manthri Coswatte (Retd) with spouse Nirmal Coswatte after receiving the award from Tribhuvan Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce Vice President Darbari

Sri Lankan delegates at the Summit along with Award recipient Lt. Col. Manthri Coswatte (Retd) and SLEAWA Founder President Maj. Ramani Kangaraarachchi (Retd)

Lt. Col. Manthri Coswatte (Retd), the incumbent president of Sri Lanka Ex-Army Women’s Association (SLEAWA), received the prestigious Asian Arab Awards recently under the category Peace and Activism at Hotel Taj Krishna in Hyderabad, India.

The event focused on improving trade and investment to collaborate with communities and build an inclusive culture. The three-day Summit and Awards Gala was attended by delegates from more than 29 countries from the Asian-Arab continent.

“This is not only an individual recognition for me but also to all the women peacekeepers who made the supreme sacrifice of protecting the sovereignty and integrity of our mother land,” said Lt. Col. Coswatte. “This international award is a timely intervention and an honour to SLEAWA as it enters its Silver Jubilee year in 2020,” the State Purna Bhumi Awardee further added.

Sri Lanka Ex-Army Women’s Association was formed under the patronage of Deshamanya General Denis Perera to continue the sisterhood of Espirit De Corps and to promote training programs, skilled development and other socioeconomic welfare projects dedicated for the wellbeing of retired army women soldiers.

Coswatte was the first Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps to be posted for duties in the operation area in 1993 during the 30-year-war against terrorism. Coswatte is married to a fellow senior Sri Lankan military officer who is also currently retired. They are blessed with a daughter, a law graduate who promotes gender equality and human rights within Sri Lanka.