President inaugurates General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Rohan Mathes

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy was ceremonially inaugurated and renamed the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Ratmalana yesterday.

This was a great leap forward for the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) which was established in 1980 with the specific purpose of grooming qualified officers for the three Armed Services, professionally and academically.

A parade consisting of 96 cadets and two commissioned officers presented the 'Guard of Honour' to President Rajapaksa.

Following the address of the Chancellor of the KDU General Deshamanya J.E.D. Perera, President Rajapaksa unveiled the plaque commemorating the establishment of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, which Kotelawala would eventually be placed in the Museum building which was the General's Kotelawala's residence. The KDU anthem was sung at the unveiling.

Thereafter, the KDU website was re-launched by President Rajapaksa, and a group photograph of the KDU staff was taken with the President, before tea and refreshments were served.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Additional Secretary Willie Gamage, Chief of Defence Staff Donald Perera, Army Commander Lt.Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Vasantha Karannagda, Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshall Roshan Goonethilake, IGP Victor Perera, President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and others participated at this epoch-making event.