The 128^th Birth Anniversary of Late General the Right Honourable Sir John Lionel Kotelawala CH KBE LLD

The 128^th Birth Anniversary of the Late General the Right Honourable Sir John Lionel Kotelawala CH KBE LLD, 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, 2025.

A commemoration ceremony was held at  KDU in memory of this great son of Mother Lanka, with the participation of The Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air  Marshal VB Edirisinghe  WWV, RWP, RSP and three Bars, USP, fndu (China), psc qhi, as the Chief Guest.

The ceremony commenced with the laying of wreaths  at the Statue of General Sir John Kotelawala by the Chief Guest, The Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force the Chancellor of KDU, General SHS Kottegoda (Retd) WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc;  the Guest of Honour at the commemoration of 128^th Birth Anniversary of Late General the Right Honourable Sir John Lionel Kotelawala; the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara VSV, USP, psc, MMaritime Pol, Bsc (DS); and Mrs. Nirmaleen Kotagma, representing the family of Late General Sir John Kotelawala.

The Chief Guest, 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 31 scholarships sponsored by the Sir John Kotelawala Memorial Society to deserving children selected from Piliyandala Sir John Kotelawala School, Kandawala Navodya School, Kuruneegala Sir John Kotelawala maha vedyalaya and among the children of KDU employees. Subsequently, an oration conducted by Mr Prasantha Lal De Alwis, PC,  Principal of Sri Lanka  Law College, was held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies – KDU.

Representing the Alumni Association, Air Chief Marshal Udeni Rajapaksksha (retd); Deputy vice chancellor (defence and administration) Brigadier Pradeep Ratnayake; Deputy vice chancellor (Academic), Professor KAS Dammmika; Deans of faculties, Directors, Senior officers, administrative staff , distinguished invitees from the family of Late General  Sir John  Kotelawala, Officer Cadets and Day Scholars participated in this commemoration Ceremony.