Officers’ Training Day at KDU for the 02nd Quarter of 2023

The Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies successfully organized the Officers’ Training Day for the 2nd quarter of the year on 10th June 2023. The primary objective of this event was to update and enhance the knowledge of the military officers working at Kotelawala Defence University. The main auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Officers’ Mess served as the venues for this productive day. The training day was directed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Defence and Admin), Brigadier DCA Wickramasinghe USP USACGSC and supervised by Colonel RKARP Ratnayake RSP USP, the Dean of the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies.

The day comprised of four informative presentations delivered by esteemed guest lecturers, with each session taking place in the morning, afternoon and evening. To initiate the morning session, Dr. UG Rajapaksha, a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Management and Finance at KDU, presented on the topic of ‘Art of Living’. This engaging lecture provided valuable insights into the aspects of personal development, including emotional well-being, mindfulness, self-awareness, and relationships. The next presentation, titled ‘System Adaptation’, was conducted by Major ODM De Silva psc, who serve as the Squadron Commander of Intake 36. This session enlightened the participants understanding on changing environments, enhancing resilience, change management, innovation and growth. Mr. S Satheesmohan, a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Strategic Studies at KDU, concluded the afternoon session of the training day with a lecture on ‘UN Peace Keeping’. This presentation served as an introduction to the engagement of the UN in the peacebuilding process, to the attending officers.

The Officers’ Training Day continued into the evening with a special session held at the Officers’ Mess, designed as a Diners’ Club event. The intention of this event was to provide an engaging and enriching experience where officers could enjoy fine dining and engage in intellectual discussions. The focal point of the evening was a captivating lecture on the topic of “Building Climate Security: A Pathway to a Sustainable Future.” delivered by Prof. Deepthi Wickramasinghe of the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences at the University of Colombo.

The Officers’ Training Day saw an active participation from the senior military officers, all other military officers and academia from Kotelawala Defence University. It was a highly successful and productive event that provided a platform for learning, networking, and professional growth.