Essential New Infrastructure Facilities and “Hall of Fame” Declared Open at KDU

Newly added essential infrastructure facilities and the “Hall of Fame” of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) were declared open by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil at the invitation of Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Vice Chancellor of KDU on 23^rd June 2023.

In the process, “Soma Devi” Female Accommodation Complex at Werahera, faculty building of the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Criminal Justice, faculty building of Faculty of Management, Social Science and Humanities and refurbished Headquarter Building at KDU Ratmalana were added to enhance the existing infrastructure facilities of KDU.

Meeting the high demand for decent accommodation, “Soma Devi” Accommodation Complex which is equipped with all modern amenities such as AC and hot water, was constructed to accommodate 90 female Day Scholars and Academic Staff in a very safe and secure environment at a reasonable cost. Facility was constructed on a land donated by Ms. Malani Kotelawala member of Kinsman family of Kotelawala.

The construction of the new state-of-the-art, fully equipped new building for Faculty of Law and Faculty of Criminal Justice will bring both faculties under one roof. The complex includes a library in addition to a modern Moot Court Room which happened to be first and only moot court room in a state university in Sri Lanka.

With the construction of new complex, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, being one of the oldest and largest faculties of KDU, would able to cater for increasing demand of undergraduates with all modern facilities including a fully equipped language lab.

The refurbishment of old academic building to house the Headquarter Complex will locate all administrative and administrative support divisions under one roof that will facilitate administration functions of the university to be more smoother and efficient.

In order to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of KDU Alumni who have reached and remained at the pinnacle in their fields or have effected a profound positive impact on upbringing of the KDU, the following exceptional personalities were inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame” of KDU.

General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala CH KBE KStJ PC – The Benefactor who donated his entire property for the establishment of the KDA.
General Deshamanya J E D Perera VSV D Litt FCMI FIM (SL) ndc, psc – 08th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army who pioneered in obtaining the property and land to establish the KDA.
Air Chief Marshal HD Abeywickrama RWP & Bar, RSP, VSV, USP rcds, psc, qfi – The 13th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and a recipient of MSc (Def Stud) Degree in Management from KDU.
Air Chief Marshal KA Gunatilleke RWP and Bar RSP VSV USP ndc psc qfi-The 14th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Chief of Defence Staff who is a member of first batch to be conferred with MSc (Def Stud) Degree in Management from KDU.
Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala RWP RSP VSV USP ndc, psc – The 15th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and a recipient of MSc (Def Stud) Degree in Management from KDU.
Admiral (Professor) Jayanath Colombage, RSP, VSV, USP, FNI – The 18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is the first recipient of PhD from the KDU.
Professor K Kapila CK Perera – KDU Alumina who functioned as the Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa and held the appointment of Secretary, Ministry of Education.
Air Marshal SK Pathirana WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP psc – The 18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and a member of the second batch of MSc (Def Stud) Degree in Management from KDU.
Inspector General of Police CD Wickremaratne – The 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka and a recipient of MSc (Def Stud) Degree in Management from KDU.
Vice Admiral UVMP Perera RSP ** USP ndu psc – The 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and the first KDU graduated officer to rise to the high office of a Commander of an Armed Force in Sri Lanka.

The second segment of the ceremony was highlighted with the launch of a book on “Sri Lanka’s Post Independence Defence Policy: Past Present and Future Projections”, co-edited by Dr. Bhagya Senaratne and Dr. Sanath De Silva of Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies. The edited volume was presented to the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and other distinguish invitees by the Vice Chancellor of KDU.

Further a presentation was delivered by Deputy Vice Chancellor Defence and Admin; Brigadier DCA Wickramasinghe USP USACGSC on the accomplishments of KDU.

The Chief Guest of the event, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne in delivering his remarks stated that he is extremely pleased to see the Vice Chancellor and the team doing exceptionally well in setting the KDU as one of the highest seats of learning in the country.

The Chancellor of KDU, General SHS Kottegoda (Retd) WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral UVMP Perera RSP & 2 Bars, USP, ndu, psc, MMaritime Pol, MSc (DS) Mgt, MSc (MS & NSSS), BA (DS) Hons, PWO, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal SK Pathirana WWV and Bar, RWP and Bar, RSP and 3 Bars, VSV, USP, Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army Major General CD Weerasuriya RWP RSP ndu, Inspector General of Police CD Wickremaratne, Additional Secretary (Defence) Ministry of Defence, Ms. Dhammika Wijayasinghe, Director General of Department of Public Finance, Mr. EA Rathnaseela, Rector Metropolitan Campus, Major General ALDM Gunasekara, Rector Southern Campus, Major General LCR Jayasuriya, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Defence and Administration) Brig DCA Wickramasinghe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor KAS Dhammika, Deans and Directors, Military Officers, Academia, Officer Cadets and Day Scholars were present at the ceremony.

This newly constructed infrastructure facilities are the initiatives of the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, who has been playing a decisive role in the immense development accomplished by the KDU in the recent history.