Kotelawala Defence University:

Twenty eight years of national service

The annual convocation of KDU will be held for the 18th consecutive year on October 27 at the BMICH. This article summarizes the national service rendered by this single prestigious defence university in Sri Lanka and its future prospects.

by Prof. Ranjith B. Mapa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the chief guest at last year’s Convocation

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) located at Ratmalana comprises 536 students (cadets) at present (from 4 intakes) offering nine undergraduate degree programs in Defence Studies. Among them, five degree programs lead to Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc.) namely Mechanical, Marine, Electrical and Electronic, Civil and Aeronautical Engineering. This is the only university in Sri Lanka offering Bachelor of Science Degrees in Marine and Aeronautical Engineering. The remaining three undergraduate defence study programs consist of Bachelor of Science in Management & Technical Sciences (MTS), Bachelor of Arts (B.A) and Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com). In addition, 25 cadets are following the MBBS Degree at University of Ruhuna, and will join their counterpart cadets when its own Medical Faculty is established by KDU at Ratmalana. The Post Graduate Degree program offers Master of Science (Defence Studies) in Management (M.Sc.) for middle and senior level Service and Police officers. While the engineering students study at KDU for three consecutive years and spend six to 12 months in their respective academies (Diyathalawa, Trincomalee, Welisara, Katunayake and Ratmalana) the others spend two years at KDU and one year in their respective military academies.

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was established as an Academy in 1981 and elevated to University status in 1986. It offers nine undergraduate degree programs related to defence studies and post graduate degrees. The Medical stream was initiated in September 2009 and a Law stream will be started in near future. More than 1600 undergraduate and 140 post gradate degrees have been awarded by KDU during the last 28 years. Many of the KDU alumni fought the war against LTTE at different capacities and contributed to its success.

National Service

The KDU established in 1981, completes 28 years of dedicated service to mother Sri Lanka. It was first established as Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy in 1981, as a result of the requests made by the commanders of three armed forces to set up such an institute for the young officers. Subsequently, a study team visited the Indian National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy, and proposed setting up a Defence Academy of similar structure in Sri Lanka. The need for a suitable location to house the defence academy was expressed by the third prime Minister of Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala to the then Commander of the

Army, Major General J.E.D. Perera, who willingly donated his Kandawala estate for this purpose. This donation paved the way to establish the academy in the 48 acre land of Kandawala estate, 12 km from Colombo. It was ceremonially opened by the then President of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene on the Army day of October 11, 1980, and was named as General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA).

The first batch of cadets was enlisted to KDU in March 1981, where Col CAMN Silva was appointed as the founder commandant. The admission and academic programs for the initial three intakes were supervised by the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Prof. Stanly Kalpage and the two Vice Chancellors of Universities of Colombo and Moratuwa, Professors Stanley Wijesundara and C. Patuvatawithana, respectively.

The first intake consisted of 34 cadets of which 13 attended the B.Sc.

Degree Program in Physical Science in Colombo University while the balance followed the B.Sc. Engineering Degree program at Moratuwa University. In 1985, for the first time KDA advertised for the enlistment of service cadets to follow its Defence Studies Degree Programs where Part I was conducted at KDA. The cadets proceeded to their respective service academies to undergo the Part II of the training in the second year and returned to KDA to complete the final component of Part III. In 1986 the KDA was elevated to University status enabling it to confer Degrees in Defence Studies to officer cadets who successfully complete the program and the first convocation was held in 1991. In 1996, KDA obtained the membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (UK) by maintaining necessary standards required for educating and grooming officer cadets to meet the challenges of modern defence management. The academy enlisted two cadets from Bangladesh in year 2000 paving its way for international recognition. Thereafter, many cadets from SAARC countries were enlisted. Another milestone was achieved in 2001, when the academy initiated the Master of Science (Defence Studies) Degree in Management for middle and senior level Service and Police officers. Even though the academy was elevated to university status in 1986, the name remained as General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy. The ceremonial renaming of the academy as General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University took place on October 11, 2007 under President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Entry Requirements

Citizens of Sri Lanka, men and women between ages of 18 to 22 are admitted to KDU who have been pronounced as eligible for university admission by the Commissioner General of Examinations and fulfilling the requirements of at least a 'S' grade for all three approved subjects at GCE (A/L), a pass in the common eligibility test for University admission and a minimum of a Credit Pass in English at the G.C.E (O/L) Examination as criteria for eligibility practised in other universities in Sri Lanka. In addition, they should possess minimum physical standards in height, weight and chest, and show the required levels of physical and mental stamina. The entry requirements and other details are advertised in national newspapers, the gazette as well as appear in the KDU web site www.kdu.ac.lk. A new batch of cadets is normally enlisted to KDU during the third quarter of each year. During the initial four months the cadets undergo an intensive course in English and a rigorous military orientation phase. Cadets are provided with free uniforms, spacious housing and food in addition to a considerable living allowance during the three years. This year, 195 cadets were enlisted, which was the highest number admitted to a single batch during the history of KDU.

At the time of admission, cadets have the option to select their preference to the three armed forces mainly Army, Navy or Air Force for their future career. Foreign cadets from SAARC countries possessing equivalent qualifications also get the opportunity to enter KDU through the Foreign Ministry and respective High Commissions of Sri Lanka. Each SAARC country is offered with two vacancies and by year 2008 twenty such students graduated from Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal.

Management and administration

The management and administration of KDU is vested with the Board of Management (BOM) appointed by the President of Sri Lanka. The BOM consists of the Chairman, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, the Additional Secretary of the same ministry, Chief of Defence Staff, Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Director General (Department of Budget, General Treasury), Commanders of the Tri Services of Sri Lanka, Army, Navy and Air Force.

Vice Chancellor / Commandant of the University and the Registrar as the Secretary to the Board. The Chancellor of the University is appointed by the President and presides over convocations of the University where the tenure of service lasts for a period of five years. Presently, General Desamanya J.E. Denis Perera, holds the position of Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor/Commandant of the University is also appointed by the President and has to be a Service Officer in the ranks of Major General/Rear Admiral/ Air Vice Marshal. His tenure of services lasts normally for a period of three years and is rotated among the three services, Army, Navy and Air Force. At present Major General Milinda Peiris holds the post of Vice Chancellor. The Deputy Vice Chancellor/Deputy Commandant of the University appointed by the Board of Management has to be a Service Officer in the ranks of Brigadier, Commodore or Air Commodore and is presently held by Brigadier H.L. David.

Faculties of Academic and Defence Studies

The academic program of the University is carried out under the guidance of the Faculty Staff by the Director of Academic Studies (DAS), with the assistance of eight Academic Departments offering 11 degree programs which were named in the introduction of this article.

These are conducted using the services of a team of qualified academics consisting of both internal and visiting staff. At present there are 22 internal academic staff members and KDU obtains the services of many visiting lecturers and professors from Universities including the University of Moratuwa. There are some lecturers contracted from the qualified service officers from the tri-services. For the smooth functioning of the degree programs, KDU obtains the services of eminent persons as Consultants and Course Coordinators, and from members in the Board of Examiners.

Advisory Committees and Board of Studies

The student program consists of two semesters of 21 weeks per year for three years, whereas two years are spent at KDU and balance time at their respective military academies. Approximately 75% of students contact hours is allocated for the Academic Program while 25% is used for Defence Studies consisting of military training.

The Faculty of Defence Studies is headed by Lieutenant Colonel S.K. Eshwaran, Commanding Officer (CO) assisted by Squadron Commanders in charge of each intake and Troop Commanders supervising each troop. The cadets at KDU are subjected to compulsory military training whilst carrying out their academic programs. The military training is designed and planned to educate, train and inspire cadets for an exemplary career as Commissioned Officers of the three Services. The course curriculum in Defence Studies includes Weapon Training, Map Reading, Leadership Studies, Elementary Lessons in Field Crafts etc.

Post Graduate Program

The Post Graduate Program is conducted by the Institute of Post Graduate Studies (IPGS) coordinated by Brigadier U.A.B. Madewela. It offers external Post Graduate Degrees for middle and senior level officers of the three Services and Police in Master of Science (Defence Studies) Degree in Management. In addition, courses on English and Information Technology are conducted during the weekends for military officers, other rank officers and civilians serving in military establishments

Facilities

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University offers the cadets many facilities as provided to students by other Universities in the country. Spacious lecture rooms, an auditorium, laboratory complexes and an engineering workshop support in developing practical skills of cadets. In addition, two language laboratories, a library and a IT center facilitate their learning. KDU also provides the cadets with sports facilities with a well equipped gymnasium and swimming pool for them to compete in different tournaments.

The extra curricular activities are supported by formation of various clubs as E-club, Photography club, Rowing club, Music and Dancing club, Eco club etc.

University Crest and anthem

The crest of KDU has a symbolic composition. It consists of the emblem of the Republic of Sri Lanka showing the loyalty to the country, the crosses of swords symbolic to the Sri Lanka Army, the Anchor and Wings which are symbolic of Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force, and the Torch symbolic of education. The motto in the emblem reads "For The Motherland Forever". The KDU has its own anthem written by Dr. S.H. Nissanka and music composed by Dr. Premasiri Kemadasa.

Future prospects with the able guidance of the present Vice Chancellor/Commandant Major General Milinda Peiris and his team of officers at KDU have already started a medical stream to provide the doctors needed by the armed forces. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the KDU and the University of Ruhuna on September 22, 2009 to train medical graduates where the first batch of 25 cadets was enlisted recently and they have joined the Medical Faculty of University of Ruhuna at Karapitiya in late September. This number will be increased to 40 in the next year and plans are under way to start its own Medical Faculty at KDU, Ratmalana. In addition, plans are under way to start a Faculty of Law to provide the necessary legal personnel to the armed forces. Under the restructuring plan, the existing Departments of Engineering and, Humanities and Social Sciences will be elevated to Faculty level to have a full fledged Defence University consisting of many Faculties and an Institute for Post Graduate Studies.

The winning of the war against LTTE has proved that the Sri Lankan forces are not second to any other armed force in the world. There is a great demand and many inquiries from foreign armed forces in obtaining training on revolutionary warfare and leadership qualities from Sri Lankan armed forces.

These opportunities should be exploited by KDU, as it will be the most appropriate institute to offer such courses. In addition, the staff and cadets of KDU should be given opportunities to study, research and document various field structures and tactics used in Guerrilla warfare by the LTTE .

The academia of Sri Lanka applaud the services rendered by the armed forces in the battle against LTTE and the sacrifices they made in winning the war which lasted for 30 years. There are many ways the academics can show their appreciation to Armed Services by joining hands to further develop the Academic Program of General Sir John Kotelawala University.

Opportunities will be made in the near future for the academics in Universities and other relevant institutes to participate in curriculum development, conduct visiting lectures and to participate as resource personnel in workshops and seminars in areas of need, which would uplift the standards of graduates and post-graduates who will be joining their respective services after graduation from KDU. With the development into a fullfledged University with many faculties, KDU will be able to increase its intake to supply the manpower needed to armed services having the professional qualifications and the necessary discipline needed in such services.

For more information on admission requirements for Sir General John Kotelawala Defence University, visit our web site www.kdu.ac.lk or call 011-2634201.

The writer is the Director, Academic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana.