19th November 2024 08:45:12 Hours
The Ceremonial Graduation of the National Defence College (NDC) course No 3 was held yesterday afternoon (18 November) at the Faculty of Graduate Studies Auditorium of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rathmalana with the gracious presence of Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) WWV RWP and two Bars RSP and Bar USP, MMSc (Strat Stu-China), MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MSc (Def & Strat Stu), fndu (China), psc as the Chief Guest.
Upon successful completion of National Security and Strategic Studies, 41 senior officers from the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and eight (8) officers from friendly foreign countries were conferred the proud acronym ‘ndc’ signifying their successful completion of the course.
At the invitation of the Commandant of the National Defence College Major General Senarath Yapa RWP RSP ndu, the Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil attended the occasion and congratulated new graduates for their professional success. He also commended the untiring commitment of the Commandant and the staff of the college to endow professionally equipped senior officers to the nation.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary of Defence congratulated the new graduates on the milestone achievement in their military career and emphasized their responsibilities towards the national security and the development of the nation.
The new graduates included 16 officers from the Sri Lanka Army (including one lady officer), 8 officers from the Sri Lanka Navy, 6 officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, 3 officers from the Sri Lanka Police (including one lady officer), and 8 foreign officers: one each from the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of India, and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as five officers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The event was graced by the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the KDU, Commanders of the Tri-Services, several Defence Attachés from foreign diplomatic missions in Colombo, serving and retired senior military and Police officers, members of academia, and family members of the graduates, all of whom added prestige to the ceremony.