14th Edition of the KDU's Research Conference Inaugurated

The 14th edition of the International Research Conference (IRC), organized by General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was inaugurated on Thursday (9) with the Principal Adviser to His Excellency, the President Mr Lalith Weerathunga gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest cum the keynote speaker, together with Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and a host of distinguished guests.

This year’s conference at the KDU is held under the theme, ‘Security, Stability and National Development in the New Normal’ with restricted participation whereas onward research presentations are to be done on a virtual platform due to prevailing pandemic in the country.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners, KDU Chancellor Gen. Gerard Hector De Silva (Retd), Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Chairman of University Grants Commission Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, Chancellors and VCs of other universities, Director General of Institute of National Security Studies Prof. Rohan Gunaratne, Air Force Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payo, Deputy VCs, Deans and Directors, former Chancellors, VCs and Commandants of KDU, eminent scholars, senior military officers and a number of distinguished guests from Sri Lanka and overseas also joined the virtual inaugural ceremony.

The Defence Secretary also was invited to make a few remarks to the inauguration ceremony, in which he pointed out that '"though the pandemic is continuing, we must always work towards reaching our development goals with stability, which is achieved ensuring national security, without endangering our country in peril. Even though, we were able to relieve the country from the menace of terrorism, we have found another security threat in the form of a pandemic, which has posed a greater threat to the entire world”, he said. KDU Vice Chancellor (VC) Major General Milinda Peiris presented a souvenir to the Defence Secretary to mark the occasion and made the welcome address.