Header Block Sinhala

ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව

ජාතියේ ආරක්ෂකයා

President at KDU Opening Ceremony Underlines Country's Unitary Status to Overcome Future Challenges


Possibilities for expansion of post graduate programmes at the prestigious General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) were further confirmed Tuesday (4) morning with the ceremonial opening of the state-of-the-art new building of the KDU’s Faculty of Graduate Studies by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena.

President Sirisena on arrival at the complex was warmly received by Major General Milinda Peiris, KDU Vice Chancellor in the company of Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary of Defence, General (Retd), Rohan Daluwatta, KDU Chancellor, General (Retd), Cyril Ranathunga, former Secretary of Defence and a few others.

A few students afterwards offered traditional sheaves of betel and welcomed the President before he was conducted in a procession for unveiling of the plaque at the new building complex. Later on, the day’s Chief Guest was taken round the complex before the brief inaugural ceremony got underway in the auditorium.

President Sirisena in his brief address to the occasion underlined that if the country were to overcome future challenges, the country’s unitary status need to be maintained, having assessed the bitter experiences Sri Lanka had to undergo in the past few decades.  

This new seven-storied building complex consists of modern facilities for studies, technically sound auditorium, lecture halls, fully-equipped administrative wings and a Wi-Fi zone, areas for rest and relaxation, reading rooms, etc and fulfils a long-felt need of the KDU.  

Adding another unique feature to its architecture, a synthetic wall climbing facility unit of 54 feet in height, which is also the highest in Sri Lanka, is available in the new complex for enthusiasts, engaged in the adventurous world-wide sport of wall climbing. 

President Sirisena was presented a symbolic memento by the Vice Chancellor on the occasion towards the end of the day’s ceremony.

It will further enhance possibilities for conduct of more and more post graduate programmes to suit ever-swelling competitive and demanding academic fields in the future. At present, the KDU is conducting eleven post graduate programmes.

The day’s ceremony was graced by Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunathilake, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Chrisantha De Silva, Commander of the Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders, Professor Mohan De Silva, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Major General Ruwan Kulathunga of KDU and several other distinguished invitees were present at the ceremony. 

In November 2014, the new building for the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences was opened and in May 2015, the southern wing of the KDU, located at Sevanagala, Embilipitiya, was opened.