17th December 2021 16:21:37 Hours
To be compatible with the 21st century's dynamic changes to the national/international security environment in the geopolitical spectrum and to groom Senior Officers, well versed in research on defence and security strategies with scholars, the Buttala-based Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC), destined to add a new chapter to the Army academia, transformed from Friday (17 December 2021) onwards to be designated as the 'Army War College' which would produce skilled critical thinkers and problem-solvers to match with worldwide standards.
The Chief Guest at the inauguration of the re-designation, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who is also the brainchild behind the realization of the conversion to be in parallel with his 'Way Forward Strategy-2020-2025' for the Sri Lanka Army upon arrival at the premises this morning (17) was warmly received by Major General Swarna Bothota, Commandant at the OCDC and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps after a colour-rich and vibrant drive- pass Guard Turnout saluted General Shavendra Silva at the entrance.
General Shavendra Silva adding an indelible chapter to the newest, 'Think Factory' for Commanders of the Tri Services, Police and civilian leaders at the strategic level afterwards unveiled the new name board of the 'Army War College' (AWC) and the plaque to the same effect at the entrance to the main auditorium at the invitation of the Commandant in the new AWC.
The lighting of the traditional oil lamp, observance of one-minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes and the recital of the Army song successively set the stage ready for a video documentary of the new AWC which traced the saga, related to the birth of the hitherto functional OCDC and the AWC's new vision that could usher in a new era to provide high quality professional military education, conduct of Research, Publishing, Engagement in Discourses and Wargames and strategic leader development through agile, constantly reviewed and updated graduate courses, necessary for success in the contemporary operation environment
Presenting an overall exposure to the new AWC's 'vision and mission', the day's agenda then invited the occasion's protagonist to launch the official website of the AWC (https://alt.army.lk/awc/) as proceedings got underway with the welcome note, delivered by the Commandant, Major General Swarna Bothota.
The anxiously-awaited Commander's complimentary speech to the occasion said that the year 2021 has been an important watershed in the evolution and growth of Army War College since it marks the elevation of War College from Officer Career Development Centre. This elevation is not merely a change of OCDC’s designation. This elevation is an elevation of expectations of the role played by the Army in today’s security context. Indeed it implies that the College is now ready to produce future military leaders with necessary knowledge, capacity, and competency to shoulder a broader spectrum of responsibilities as demanded by the Army, by the country, and by the world at large. (See below for the full text)
Next, saw the award of accolades and certificates to top three student Officers in the Senior Command and the Junior Staff Courses and also to several foreign military Officers who followed those graduate courses. Towards its end, the Commandant, AWC presented a symbolic memento to the day's Chief Guest for his gracious presence at the occasion and General Shavendra Silva was invited to leave memories by posing for group photographs, planting a sapling and signing the Visitors' Book at the AWC.
Similarly, the opening of the newly-constructed 'Twin Model Room', a long-felt need in the College premises added further significance. The day's Chief Guest cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque to that effect and had a close look inside after he walked in with the Commandant and Senior Officers. General Shavendra Silva's first visit to the Army War College as the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army provided a rare occasion for interaction with Student Officers after a while at the Officers’ Mess where they freely shared thoughts on the Commander's past military experiences and current nation-building responsibilities, etc.
Former OCDC Commandants, Major General Aruna Jayasekera (Rtd), Major General Jayanath Jayaweera who were instrumental in elevating the then OCDC to new heights of academic and international standards, a gathering of retired and serving Senior Officers, civil experts and instructors were present at the elevation ceremony, adhering to health guidelines.
A total number of 2148 Student Officers, including 44 Student Officers of friendly foreign nations and two officers from Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have been graduated as professionally qualified officers in this seat of learning since 23 January 2012. The OCDC had been able to meet the demanding needs of military while confirming to the ethics of professionalism in tri services and the civil sector. Further, this prestigious institution has paid an extra effort, to upgrade the leadership, managerial and public relation qualities of the government sector by providing its mission and the vision set with the grand strategic focus. The transformed new Army War College will focus basically on the changing strategic environment in the modern context.
Here follows the full text of General Shavendra Silva's address to the invitees at the re-designated Army War College;
"As you know, this elevation has been supplemented with necessary infrastructure, training facilities, course curriculums, as well as hand- picked set of well qualified instructors with a view to giving the best to learning officers. Also I remind that I will never hesitate to invest on military training and apparently I expect that the training will foster high standards in the Army which would be upheld throughout. Therefore, I insist that the military education today is an indispensable aspect of an officer's career. The future learning at OCDC will be aligned to bridge the knowledge gap as anticipated by 'Sri Lanka Army Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025' to meet His Excellency the President and the Government’s “Vistas for Prosperity Agenda.
It is common wisdom today that the secure environment is rapidly changing and changing as never before. I hope I should not harp much on the security environment since you are well conversant with what is happening today as student officers. But let me remind you, that the multi-faceted change in the context demands the Army to have competencies on intervening in much broader spectrum of conflicts than before from classical military posture to the posture in the wake of pandemics. We never know whether it would be further more in time to come.
So far Sri Lanka Army has demonstrated the resilience, and the capacity to adjust to evolving situations and new demands, while remaining relevant to any situation. Thus, His Excellency the President and the Government of Sri Lanka have kept complete confidence on Sri Lanka Army as the most credible responder in any sort of eventuality. Also the people of this country have the utmost faith on the Sri Lanka Army and expect the Army will continue to be the defender of the country and its people in this dynamic security environment. Consequently, we must be conceptually, physically and morally prepared ourselves to match the future demands and be relevant in time to come. Therefore I feel it very much pertinent to speak a few words on military education.
Officers are the leaders, decision makers and managers of the Army. This role comes with very real mental and physical challenge, with Officers being expected to lead from the front in all situations which are usually cumbersome, tiring and strange. Nowadays, with the frequently changing in demand, the versatility and professionalism are the driving principle of an officer. Also lack of knowledge, and competencies are the evils which have no more precedence in the officer corps today.
Therefore, the purpose of officer training is to develop the character and leadership of officers and instilling the necessary knowledge, confidence, sense of duty and responsibility at frequent intervals and levels so that officers can bear the responsibilities at all levels. Thus I urge the Instructors and Directing Staff to train the student officers to acquire relevant, and updated and necessary knowledge at different levels. If you wonder why all these trainings are characterized by exerting heavy pressure on students; it is because the tendency of making a wrong decision is more when a leader is under the pressure and thus through the training, officers must be moulded to withstand the pressure under tiring situations.
Similarly, your resilience, perseverance and focus during training will come in handy one day in the field and will enable you to serve diligently, with integrity and self-satisfaction. The officers of middle grade, are compelling to have competencies of the command functions, staff functions and operational staff planning processes, since the middle-grade officers function as company commanders, grade 2 level staff officers or instructors. In today’s pace of operational and nonoperational commitments, any tactical delay or mishap can be extremely costly at the strategic level.
Therefore, training the “doers” with the basics of command, operational and staff aspects is a must to function effectively in today’s environment. Further, in the future, more middle grade officers are likely to find themselves responsible for tactical planning and execution of tasks possibly different from operational tasks. It is high time for the middle grade officers of Sri Lanka Army to enter into the tactical and operational realm by educating and training them to understand, transform, plan, and execute multi array of operational and non-operational commitments in a wider security context.
Therefore, Junior Command Course has been designed to learn, interpret, apply, test and question the military concepts, doctrines, tactics, technics and procedures used in the Sri Lanka Army and providing conducive platform for innovative and creative problems solving. I assure, the hardship you undergo today will be an investment for you to perform the command, staff and instructor duties with confidence and professional competence.
Students of Senior Command Course
I consider, the battalions as the most important constituent of the Army. Since the battalions determine organizational success, Army must ensure that the battalion commanders are our best possible officers. Therefore I want my future battalion commanders to be knowledgeable, competent and reliable officers who can interpret bigger security picture and transform it to a workable plan understanding the role to be played by the battalion in that context. Also I need the future battalion commanders to be confident enough to take initiatives within the frame and thus, enhancing the knowledge on command, staff, and administrative functions and procedures is therefore indispensable.
I know most of the student officers of Senior Command Course have served terms in the front line during the LTTE conflict and have completed 11 more years after the war in various appointments. Perhaps there can be officers who have missed the higher military education due to the operational commitments. Therefore, the Senior Command Course serves three purposes. First, it will allow an opportunity for officers who are the most deserving of command, but could not make it due to various commitments and prerequisites placed into command. Second, it will identify the potential as well as toxic leaders so that officers who deserve to command and with strategic potential can be screened from those who are not.
Third, it will change the culture of the Army officer corps to one that deeply values the abilities most needed by tomorrow’s strategic leaders, such as critical and innovative thinking, effective oral and written communication, strategic temperament, and an authentic respect for subordinates and peers. Therefore, I believe you will get the maximum from the course and prove yourself competent to be future leaders.
Instructors and Directing Staff,
You have been handpicked considering your track records and I commend your relentless effort to foster the learning and uplifting the standard of the Army. Let me remind at the end of the day you will be judged by the student officers not for your past records but on how much you give them for their development as well as your ability to inspire them for learning. Therefore, I suggest that you keep abreast with the modern development of security environment, encourage the student officers for an updated learning and establish the right balance between theory and application.
More keenly I shall suggest you to help the student officers to unlock emotions, attitudes, and responses to intellectual challenges and stimulate self-learning habits and develop confidence in exchanging ideas and participating in forums during the course. I thank you for the hard work and commitment and expect you will continue to keep the same spirit in time to come.
The officer education and training in the Army have been devoted to foster high caliber officers as demanded by today’s security context. For that the country bears huge amount of public money. Also you have been spared and made free from the endless duties and commitments assigned to the Army to ensure mind free education. Therefore, your outcome should justify the every cent spent on you; thus I emphasise that you must reciprocate the expenditure made on you by making use of resources, facilities, instructors and the time allocated you to for improving yourself and nothing but improving yourself.
Finally, let me convey my profound regards to the Commandant, Chief Instructor, members of the directing staff and the administrative staff and all those who are behind the screen for their untiring effort to maintain the ideal learning environment for grooming professional Army officers at Army War College. I wish you the health, wealth and happiness in all future endeavours, " the speech ended.
