The 127th Birth Anniversary of General Sir John Kotelawala

The 127^th Birth Anniversary of General Sir John Kotelawala, the third Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka and the benefactor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU), fell on the 4^th of April, 2024.

A commemoration ceremony was held at the KDU in memory of this great son of Mother Lanka, with the participation of Lieutenant General HLVM Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, as the Chief Guest.

The ceremony commenced with wreaths being laid at the Statue of General Sir John Kotelawala by the Chief Guest, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General HLVM Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara VSV USP psc MMaritime Pol Bsc (DS), and Mr. Ananda Kotelawala representing the kinsmen family of General Sir John Kotelawala.

The Vice Chancellor of KDU delivered an address in which he elaborated on the remarkable personality of General Sir John Kotelawala, highlighting his roles as a sportsman, a statesman, a soldier, and, above all, as a great philanthropist and forthright leader who rendered yeoman service for the nation.

The event concluded with the awarding of scholarships sponsored by the Sir John Kotelawala Memorial Society to deserving children selected from Piliyandala Sir John Kotelawala School, Kandawala Navodya School, and among the children of KDU employees. Simultaneously, a Commemoration Ceremony was held, followed by an oration conducted by Brigadier Hiran N. Halangoda (Retd) RWP RSP USP USACGSC at the Auditorium, Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral UVMP Perera RSP and two bars USP ndu psc , Vice Chancellor of  KDU, Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara VSV USP psc MMaritime Pol Bsc (DS), Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal RH wickremeratne RWP RSP WSP MSc(Strat Stu)MPhil MIM(SL) MITD(SL) ndc(Ind) , (Rector –Southren Campus, Major General LRC Jayasooriya RSP ndc psc , Deputy vice chancellor (defence and administration) Major General DCA Wickramasinghe USP USACGSC, Deputy vice chancellor (Acedemic),Professor KAS Dammmika,  Rector Kurunegala campus, Commodore SR Rupaseena RWP RSP psc MSc(DS) Mgt PGDip in S&DS BSc (DS) MTS GCertMaritimeStud, Rector Metropolitan campus, Air Commodore DRW Jayawardena USP VSP MSc(Def & Stu) in Mgt MDS MSSD BA (Def&Stu) ndc(Ban) psc , Deans of faculties, Directors, Member of  KDU alumni, Senior officers, Administrative staff , distinguished invitees of kinsman family, Officer Cadets and Day Scholars participated in this commemoration Ceremony.