President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the 24th Convocation of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) as the Chief Guest at the Temple Trees on Friday evening (31st October).
President Rajapaksa awarded Trophies and Gold Medals to the outshined scholars of the academic year and the Chancellor of KDU General Rohan Daluwatte conferred degrees to the graduates during the session. Chairperson of the KDU Board of Management Secretary to the Ministry Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also present at the occasion.
Turning a new page in the annals of the KDU history, 'Bachelor of Medicine' and 'Bachelor of Surgery' degrees were also conferred to the Medical Students for the first time. In the meantime, Sub Lieutenant BLL Karunathilaka secured several gold medals including a trophy for Overall Best Performance in MBBS Degreee Programme.
Officers of the 27th and 28th KDU Intakes, Officers of the Master of Science (Defence Studies) Degree in Management, Master of Science degree in (Defence and strategic Studies), Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management, Bachelor of Science (Defence Studies) Degree in Management, Bachelor of Science (Defence Studies) in Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Management and Technical Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Logistics Management, Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences, Bachelor of Commerce and Arts who had successfully completed their entire academic curriculum were conferred respective degrees at the convocation.
Addressing the gathering President Mahinda Rajapaksa felicitated the medical faculty for rapid growth that has been showed and also for producing new medical graduates to the country in a short span of five years. "Moreover he said that, "further enhancing its facilities new teaching hospital is now being constructed in Werahara".
Further speaking President Rajapaksa went on to say that, "in near future KDU would be steered to be the leading centrepiece of 'Scientific Research and Development' in the country". "By 2015 paradigm of all degree curriculums would be further enhanced while conforming to the international standards" he added. He also mentioned that, a number of foreign students are pursuing their higher studies in KDU.
President stated that, "an unprecedented interest could be seen among tri-forces officers to pursue higher education more than before and it was brought to my notice that, some of the senior officials are reading for their PhD's" "Security forces armed with immense knowledge would carry out a better duty to safeguard the country" "Similarly we have opened Mahindodaya technical laboratories and schools covering North and East". "When people turns rich in their knowledge they would automatically give up the ideology of separatism". He emphasised.
Speaking to new graduates President mentioned that, "at a stage that the rapid development is in progress, contribute to safe guard the country while materializing your knowledge into practice".
"Security forces have become a bridge to promote closer cooperation between the communities". He also noted.
The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was initially established as the "General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy" by the Parliamentary Act 1981 and subsequently was elevated to University status by the amendment Act No 27 of 1988, thereby empowering it to award Bachelors' and Postgraduate degrees in Defence Studies. Later, it was renamed as General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in the year 2007.
The KDU strives to ensure a high-quality, learner-centred educational experience through undergraduate, graduate, and professional programmes along with high quality research across many disciplines in the field of defence. It is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (United Kingdom) and maintains necessary standards for educating and grooming Officer Cadets to meet the challenges of modern Defence Management.
Chief of Defence Staff, Tri-Forces Commanders, Vice Chancellor of the KDU, members of the KDU Board of Management, Academic and Non Academic staffs of KDU, Heads of other reputed Universities, Officials of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, distinguished invitees, senior military officials, police officers and family members of the officers those who conferred degrees were also present at the occasion.(MoD.KH)
