Eighty Four Officers Graduate From KDA

Eighty four Officers graduated from Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) in Ratmalana received their certificates from President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the convocation ceremony held recently at BMICH in Colombo.

The Best Officer for overall performance in the year was received by Flying Officer Ms. J. I. Abeygunawardene of the Sri Lanka Air Force. These graduates were from three armed forces. Of these 84 Officers who passed out, 33 were from the Army, 23 from the Navy and 28 from Air Force .

In her speech at the Convocation, President Kumaratunga hailed the services being rendered by all three armed forces in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country and security in the northeast of Sri Lanka. “I am thankful to late Sir John Kotelawala, for his thought of the need of having an institute like this in the interests of our armed forces.” she said.

Giving her best wishes for those graduates who passed out on the occasion, President Kumaratunga said more financial allocations have been allocated for welfare activities of the soldiers through a foundation which she founded some two years ago.

Defence Minister Thilak Marapana, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, Commander of the Army Lt Gen. L.P Balagalle RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri VSV USP ndc rcds psc MSc (DS), Air Force Commander Air Marshal G. Donald Perera VSV USP ndc psc, Chancellor Major General Dennis Perera, Vice Chancellor Air Vice Marshal G. Y de Silva and a host of distinguished guests including the parents of those graduates graced the occasion.