KDA a university from today
Rasika Somarathna
The Sir John Kotelawela Defence Academy (KDA) established in 1980,
with the specific purpose of grooming academically and professionally
qualified officers for the three Armed services would be renamed Sir
John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU) today by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
The Academy elevated to University status in 1988, is the only one of
its kind in Sri Lanka and has the reputation of being one of the best in
South Asia, being a member of the Association of Commonwealth
Universities.
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Chancellor, Major General
Dennis Perera
Picture by Ranjith Jayaweera |
The KDA which fulfils the education demands of Security Forces and
related services, was originally established according to a proposal
made by the three Service Commanders in 1978, and subsequently
established in 1980 on a land donated by Sri Lanka’s third Prime
Minister Sir John Kotelawela.
Chancellor Major General Dennis Perera who pioneered the cause of
establishing the KDA in the 1970s as the Army Commander called it a
revolution of military affairs at that time.
The Chancellor who paid tribute to the late Sir John Kotelawela said
in keeping with the modern trend, the Forces’ Commanders had made this
recommendation at that time for the establishment of the Academy to
train officers of all three Forces under one roof.
The Chancellor also emphasised the importance of giving due
recognition to the profession of Arms as it is not that well-known in
the country. The KDA would continue to serve the nation in keeping with
its vision, mission and objectives for many years to come.
The establishment which grew over the years has produced 1,510
graduates up to now and by the end of 2007, the figure would go up to
1,700.
The KDA caters to both male and female under graduates as well as
providing educational facilities to students from several South Asian
countries.
The KDA which conducts all courses in English, has Bachelor Degrees
in Defence Studies for Arts, Commerce, Management and Technical
Sciences, Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical
engineering, Marine Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
It also conducts studies in Post Graduate studies.
The Institution also facilitates many other Diploma courses with
several new programmes in the pipeline. |
