Awarding of the President’s Colours and University Colours to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
The chronicle of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) inherits a story of 42 years. The initial concept of providing higher academic qualifications for the Sri Lanka Armed Forces was conceived in 1979. With the generous donation of his valuable property at Kandawala Estate, Ratmalana by General Sir John Kotelawala CH, KBE, LLD, in 1980, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) was formally established with the aspiration of producing graduated officers and of strengthening the solidarity among the tri-forces of Sri Lanka. Subsequently, the academy was elevated to the status of a university in 1988, and it was ceremonially renamed as the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) in 2007. The quality of education provided by KDU and its infrastructure facilities were enhanced in 2009 by establishing the academic faculties, and in 2012 KDU opened its doors to civilian day scholars to provide them with opportunities to pursue internationally benchmarked degrees. Presently, KDU has flourished into a fully-fledged university including eleven faculties, a University Hospital equipped with ultramodern facilities, the Southern Campus and the City Campus, and it continually strives to render its service to the nation through the higher education sector.
In keeping with its motto, “For the Motherland Forever”, the university identifies its national responsibility of addressing issues of national significance through higher education, research, and innovation. Accordingly, the university expanded its structure with relevant physical and human resources in place on a par with international standards within a short span of time to address the nation’s needs.
On August 25, 2022, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, awarded the President’s Colours and University Colours to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in recognition of its four decades of extensive, exceptional, and immeasurable service to the nation in the higher education sector in Sri Lanka for ensuring and maintaining the nation’s security, as well as of its undeniable contribution from its inception in 1980 to the realization of sustainable development in the country.
Making the declaration of awarding President’s and University Colours to the KDU, His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his strong belief that KDU authorities and staff would protect and safeguard the status of the university respecting the President’s Colours and University Colours awarded on the 25th of August 2022.
Major General Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor of KDU made a solemn declaration on behalf of all staff of KDU and its student population pledging to protect and safeguard the President’s Colours and the University Colours awarded in recognition of four decades of excellent service extended to the nation by KDU through the field of higher education.
Subsequently, addressing the gathering, His Excellency the President cherished the memories of Late General Sir John Kotelawala, the benefactor of KDU emphasizing on how Sir John Kotelawala contributed for the nation’s development through futuristic projects such as the Laxapana hydroelectricity project and on his exceptional role as a military officer during the World War II.
The President appreciated the valiant service rendered by KDU officers during the height of the civil war in the country. He further emphasized on the significance of higher education for military officers and the need for the three main important aspects of military education: discipline, training, and knowledge. He highlighted that KDU has gained local and international acclaim and thus the need for protecting the university for the future. Further, he appreciated the enrolment of civil students for KDU degree programmes as day scholars considering opportunity provided for qualified youths in the county to receive high quality higher education in Sri Lanka.
“The world is changing and in the future we won’t see the sort of war that we have experienced in the past. New technology, new knowledge is developing. Especially the war is not limited to land air and sea. Cyber technology is also developing. Also, climate change should be taken into consideration when you engage in your duties,” the President stated.
Honourable Minister of Education, Susil Premajayanth; Chief of Staff to the President and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security, Mr Sagala Ratnayaka; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Indonesia; the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; the High Commissioner of the Republic of the Maldives; the Consul for the Republic of Rwanda; the High Commissioner of New Zealand; Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunarathne (Retd); Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva; Tri-Forces Commanders; Inspector General of Police; the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Professor Sampath Amaratunga: Additional Secretary Defence Mr RMPS Rathnayake; the Treasury Representative, Ms JC Weligamage and many other distinguished invitees attended the event.
