Header

Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Buttala OCDC First Anniversary Marked with Mammoth Two-Day Long Topical Seminar

The first birth anniversary of the Army’s newest seat of scholarship, the Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala was marked in a fitting ceremony on Wednesday (January 16) with the inauguration of its first-ever mammoth seminar that discusses ‘Challenges and Prospects of Deployment of Security Forces in Post-Conflict Nation Building in View of National Security Priorities as Against Publicity’ for two consecutive days.

Major General Crishantha De Silva, Commander, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, as the Chief Guest delivered the keynote address to the inaugural opening sessions at the invitation of the OCDC Commandant, Brigadier K.P.A Jayasekara.

The mammoth OCDC seminar during its separate sessions is to dwell on perspectives and dimensions as regards National Security, Security in Different Forms, Social Dimensions and Nation-Building, covering a wide spectrum of issues and challenges that relate to roles and tasks of military personnel as well as the general public during their march to development and prosperity during these two days (Jan 16-17).

Founding of the OCDC took place exactly a year ago following a concept conceived by the incumbent Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, when he served as the Commandant at Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa several years ago. With the blessings of HE the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, the OCDC saw its birth as an academic centre of high standards to train junior and middle-grade officers to meet with 21st century security challenges. Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to HE the President at the invitation of the Commander of the Army opened it at Buttala last year.  

Traditional oil-lamp lighting by the Chief Guest, Major General Crishantha De Silva, in the company of Prof Rajiva Wijesingha (MP), Prof Ranjith Bandara, Chairman, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Mr H.M.G.H Palihakkara, former Ambassador, Chief of Staff, Major General Daya Rathnayaka, Major General Boniface Perera, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni (SFHQ-W), Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) and Brigadier K.P.A Jayasekara, Commandant, OCDC, followed the formal commencement of the Session I on the day (16).   

Release of the maiden copy of the first OCDC journal and presentation of mementos to distinguished invitees occurred soon after the Chief Guest’s keynote address to the gathering was over.

A vast array of experienced scholars, officials and veteran military officers are expected to contribute to the sessions on themes, such as ‘Security Forces’ Role in Nation-Building in Post Conflict Scenario’, ‘Security Forces in Nation-Building and National Security Concerns’, ‘Deployment of Security Forces and Protecting Sri Lanka from External Threats of Military Nature’, ‘Diplomatic Dimension of National Security’, ‘Challenges Surmounted by Security Force in Re-location, Re-settlement and Re-integration of Rehabilitees’, Post-War Intelligence Concerns in the Perspective of National Security and Security Forces’ Role in It’, ‘Response  of the People of North and East on Security Forces’ Engagement in Post Conflict Re-development and Community-Related Projects and Connected Social Dynamics’, ‘Prospects and Challenges of Security Forces Engagement in Post Conflict Nation-Building whilst Protecting Human Rights’, ‘Leadership Challenges Faced by the Officers of the Security Forces in Engaging the Nation-Building’, ‘Government Policy on Nation-Building in the Background of Concept Wonder of Asia with Added Focus on Protecting Sri Lanka from Social Threats and Revolutionizing the Education System’, ‘Engagement of Security Forces in Nation-Building with Media as a Dimension’ and ‘Harmonizing of the efforts of Government Machinery and the Security Forces in Achieving the Synergy in Nation-Building’.

Day’s two sessions chaired by Prof Ranjith Bandara and Major General Boniface Perera separately were contributed to by Mr H.M.G.S Palihakkara, Prof Ranjith Bandara, Major General Boniface Perera, Major General Udaya Perera, Brigadier Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and Colonel T.S Sallay, opening the forum for interactive questions and answers.

Sessions III and IV on Thursday (17) are to be addressed by Prof Rajiva Wijesingha (MP), Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J), Dr A. Rohan Perera, President Counsel, Major General Crishantha De Silva, Brigadier P.R Wanigasooriya, Military Spokesman, Mr Janaka Sugathadasa and Brigadier K.P.A Jayasekara.   

As the final leg of the two-day seminar, one more batch of middle-grade officers who followed OCDC courses is to receive their certificates on Thursday (17), the final day of the sessions. 

Brigadier K.P.A Jayasekara in his welcome speech made following observations;

“This seminar, judged by all criteria, is much more than an event on the Officer Career Development Centre calendar. Deliberations of a forum of this nature carry a long way, marking an important milestone in a most recently established centre of this nature, the conceptual notion of the Commander of the Army, ably directed and supported by personalities, like  Mr Gotabaya Rajapakse, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development and Mr Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to HE the President.”

“The Centre has by now founded its Department for Defence Studies, along with an IT section, with prospects for broader horizons in the future. Compartmentalizing all sections into separate wings to function as the Department for Management Studies, Higher Defence Management, General Studies, including Language Section and Social Skills Development Section, etc are some of the noteworthy features that marked the first anniversary of this study centre. As s matter of fact, the Centre since its inauguration has conducted courses of JCC and JSC and a comprehensive course on Geo Information Systems for middle-grade officers.”