KDU Aeronautic Engineering course open from this year

Sandasen MARASINGHE

General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University (KDU) Vice Chancellor Major General Milinda Peiris yesterday stated that the Aeronautic Engineering Faculty of KDU is open from this year for the civil students who are qualified for university entrance.

Vice Chancellor Peiris stating that the Aeronautic Engineering stream of the Engineering Faculty was open only for the officer cadets of the Sri Lanka Air Force told the Daily News that it is open to the civil society as there were a large number of employment opportunities in the international job market.

He also stated that with the Aeronautical Engineering degree from University Grants Commission approved KDU, the talented youth of the country will have a valuable opportunity for the first time in Sri Lanka to begin their career in the aeronautical engineering field.

The Major General said the graduands only have to join the Sri Lanka Air Force Volunteer Force as second lieutenants after the completion of the course and undergo the Air Force physical training for six months and thereafter they can join any local or foreign private institution to begin their employment.

The KDU is the only university in Sri Lanka that can boast of having an Aeronautical Engineering Faculty. The KDU is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities - United Kingdom so that the graduands can apply for postgraduate courses from any of the Commonwealth universities. The aeronautical engineering course for civil students will cost around Rs 4 million.

Referring to the course fee the Vice Chancellor stated that it is very cheap compared to the charges made by foreign institutions. Certain institutions charge this amount only for tuition and to complete the course the students have to go abroad.

All the facilities and other allowances given to the officer cadets of the KDU will be given to those civil students including the monthly salary of Rs 23,000 during the three years they study at the KDU.

In addition they would be provided with board and lodging, uniforms, batmen facilities, recreational facilities, and medical facilities free. “So that a considerable amount of the fee would be given back to the students during their course” Peiris said.

They will be recruited to the KDU with the next intake and the qualifications would be the same as for the others. The applicants should be university qualified, possess a minimum of a credit pass for English language at the GCE (O/L) examination and they will have to sit for a written test held by the KDU that includes general knowledge, IQ, current affairs etc. They will be tested for their physical fitness as well. The closing date of applications is April 9 and the applications can be obtained on the website of www.kdu.ac.lk. and from the gate of the KDU at Ratmalana.