General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University :
Making professionals for the Tri-Services
Prof. Ranjith B. Mapa
The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy was established in
1981 and elevated to a University in 1986. More than 1,600 undergraduate
and 140 postgraduate degrees have been awarded by General Sir John
Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) during the past 28 years. KDU offers
nine undergraduate degree programs in Defence Studies and related Post
Graduate Degrees. Among them, five degree programs lead to Bachelor of
Science (B.Sc.) in Engineering, namely Mechanical, Marine, Electrical
and Electronic, Civil and Aeronautical Engineering.
Students at a class in Aeronautical Engineering at KDU |
This is the only university in Sri Lanka offering Bachelor of Science
Degrees in Marine and Aeronautical Engineering. The remaining three
undergraduate defence study programs consist of Bachelor of Science in
Management and Technical Sciences (MTS), Bachelor of Arts (B.A) and
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com). In addition, 25 cadets are following the
MBBS Degree at University of Ruhuna, and will join their counterparts
when its own Medical Faculty is established by KDU at Ratmalana.
The Post Graduate Degree program offers Master of Science, (Defence
Studies) in Management for middle and senor level Service and Police
officers. While the cadets following engineering degrees study at KDU
for three consecutive years and spend six to 12 months in their
respective academies (Diyathalawa, Trincomalee, Welisara, Katunayake and
Ratmalana) the others spend two years at KDU and one year in their
respective military academies.
The past
The KDU completes 28 years of dedicated service to Mother Lanka. It
was first established as a result of the requests made by the commanders
of Three Armed Forces to set up such an institute for the young
officers. Subsequently, a study team visited the Indian National Defence
Academy and the Indian Naval Academy, and proposed setting up a Defence
Academy of similar structure in Sri Lanka. The need for a suitable
location to house the Academy was expressed to the third prime Minister
of Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala by the then Army Commander.
Major General JED Perera. Sir John Kotelawala willingly donated his
Kandawala estate of 48 areas at Ratmalana, 12 kilometres from Colombo.
This donation paved the way to establish the academy which was
ceremonially opened by the then President J.R. Jayewardene on the Army
day of October 11, 1980, and was named as General Sir John Kotelawala
Defence Academy (KDA).
The first batch of cadets was enlisted to KDU in March 1981, where
Col CAMN Silva was appointed the founder commandant. The admission and
academic program for the initial three intakes were supervised by the
then University Grants Commission Chairman, Prof. Stanley Kalpage and
the Vice Chancellors of Colombo and Moratuwa Universities, Professors
Stanley Wijesundara and C. Patuvatawithana, respectively.
The first intake consisted of 34 cadets where 13 attended the B.Sc.
Degree Program in Physical Science at the Colombo University while the
balance followed the B.Sc. Engineering Degree program at Moratuwa
University. In 1985, for the first time KDA advertised for the
enlistment of Service Cadets to follow its Defence Studies Degree
Programs where Part I was conducted at KDA.
The cadets proceeded to their respective service academies to undergo
the Part II of the training in the second year and returned to KDA to
complete the final component of Part III. In 1986, the KDA was elevated
to University status enabling it to confer Degrees in Defence Studies to
officer cadets who successfully complete the program and the first
convocation was held in 1991. In 1996, KDA obtained the membership of
the Association of Commonwealth Universities (UK) by maintaining
standards required for educating and grooming officer cadets to meet the
challenges of modern defence management.
KDU enlisted two cadets form Bangladesh in year 2000 paving its way
for international recognition. Thereafter, many cadets from SAARC
countries were enlisted. Another milestone was achieved in 2001, when
the university initiated the Master of Science (Defence Studies) Degree
in Management for middle and senior level Service and Police officers.
Even though the academy was elevated to university status in 1986, the
name remained as General Sir Kotelawala Defence Academy. The ceremonial
renaming of the academy to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence
University took place on October 11, 2007 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Admission
Sri Lankan citizens between the age of 18 to 22 are admitted to KDU
according to the eligibility criteria for university admission by the
Commissioner General of Examination and fulfilling the requirements of
at least an ‘S’ grade for all three approved subjects in GCE (A/L)
examination, a pass in the common eligibility test for University
admission and a minimum of a Credit Pass in English at the G.C.E (O/L)
Examination.
In addition, they should possess minimum physical standards in
height, weight and chest, and show the required levels of physical and
mental stamina. The entry requirements and other details are advertised
in national newspapers, gazette as well as appear in the KDU web site
www.kdu.ac.lk. A new batch of cadets is enlisted to KDU during the third
quarter of each year.
During the initial four months cadets undergo an intensive course in
English and a rigorous military orientation phase. They are provided
with free uniforms, spacious housing and food in addition to a
considerable living allowance during the undergraduate time. This year
(intake 27) 195 cadets were enlisted, which was the highest number
admitted to a single batch during the history of KDU.
The writer is Director, Academic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala
Defence University, Ratmalana
To be continued |