KDU and Sri Lanka Scout Association Launch National Rover Leader Training
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), a premier higher education institute in Sri Lanka and a globally renowned student-centric university, has taken a significant step in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Scout Association, a key strategic partner. Together, they have initiated the formation of the first-ever National Rover Crew in the country.
In line with this initiative, KDU organized the Rover Scout Leader – Phase 1 Training Course on the 15th and 16th of June 2024 at the KDU premises. The course aimed to enhance the rover scouting experience by training twenty-one (21) university staff members as Rover Scout Leaders. Phase 1 training was open to members from other state and non-state universities across the island, resulting in a total of twenty-six (26) participants including five (5) representatives from outside KDU.
The training program received esteemed support from the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, VSV, USP, psc, MMaritimePol, BSc(DS), and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of KDU, Major General CA Wickramasinghe, USP, USACGSC. Notably, they participated in the event to receive training themselves, rather than just as guests, which significantly encouraged others.
Additionally, The training was conducted by Mr. Srilath de Silva, Assistant Chief Commissioner (Rover Scouting) of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, along with his Training Panel. The programme was coordinated by Mr. Samith Thalakiriyawa-Rover Scout Leader KDU, Captain Udaya Dampage (Rtd)-Group Scout Leader KDU, Squadron Leader Suranga Herath-Officer In Charge Rover Scout KDU, and Major Indika Weerasinghe-2nd In Charge Rover Scout KDU.
