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University degrees for navy men

by Trincomalee correspondent

The Vice Chancellor of Kelaniya University Professor K. Tillekeratne, the guest of honour at the inaugural ceremony of the first degree program of the Cadet Entry Scheme Officers of the Sri Lanka Navy attached to the University of Kelaniya, held at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee recalling how the link between the University of Kelaniya and the Naval and Maritime Academy came into being.

He said by around 1997 the Naval and Maritime Academy headed by Commodore Samaratunge had felt the need to modernise their programs of study and gain acceptance as having a level of academic rigour comparable with qualifications offered by nationally and internationally recognised universities. In order to achieve the desired status, the Naval and Maritime Academy decided to negotiate with the University of Kelaniya regarding the issue.

Professor Tillekeratne said: "Why the Naval and Maritime Academy chose Kelaniya University is because we have always shown readiness to respond to national needs and raising the status of examinations so meticulously conducted by the Academy was indeed and urgent and important national need.

"By then we had also established an academic link with the Sri Lanka Army Command and Staff College located at Sapugaskanda to offer a Master's Degree in Defence Studies. So when it came to the decision point regarding the Naval and Maritime Academy we gladly accepted them with open arms but of course subject to the conditions laid down by the University to ensure the qualify of the program."

"The teaching and training facilities of the Naval and Maritime Academy impressed us greatly by the quality of the teaching personnel and the training facilities. The decision of the university to grant permission to the Naval and Maritime Academy for conducting programs leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Naval Studies of the University of Kelaniya has been vindicated by what was witnessed during our visit. The link that has been established between the Naval and Maritime Academy and the University of Kelaniya will be of immense value to the country," Professor Tillekeratne said.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, chief guest said the University of Kelaniya confers the Bachelor's Degree on Naval Studies to successful officers under three disciplines - maritime warfare, land warfare and logistic management on completion of their naval training.

Tracing the history of the Naval and Maritime Academy Vice Admiral Sandagiri said the establishment of an academy of her own for the then Royal Ceylon Navy had been an ardent desire of the former Commander of the Navy Rear Admiral Ranjan Kadirgamar ever since his association with the formation of the Navy in 1950. Rear Admiral Kadirgamar's dream became a reality in 1969 with the establishment of the Naval and Maritime Academy.

He said: "The first batch of officer cadets to be trained in Sri Lanka joined this very academy in 1969. I was fortunate to be one of them. Today I am proud to be at the helm of the Sri Lanka Navy."

Vice Admiral Sandagiri told the recruit Cadet officers that their duty by the country should be the first and foremost. As it is known the country is burdened with a terrorist problem perpetrated by a group of people trying to divide it. However, the unitary status of the country, its sovereignty and territorial integrity would never be compromised.

Commandant, Naval and Maritime Academy Commodore T. M. J. Mendis in his welcome speech said the aim of this training is to educate, train and to inspire the young officers morally, mentally and physically, moulding them into professional naval officers so that they would have the character, leadership, intellectual foundation and other attributes essential to command and to lead in pursuit of excellence in the Naval service in the best interests of the nation.

The accreditation warrant was signed and declared by Vice Admiral D. Sandagiri, Vice Chancellor, Professor Tillekeratne and Commandant Naval and Maritime Academy, Commodore T. M. J. Mendis.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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