Defence Services Command and Staff College

DEFENCE SERVICES COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE COURSE NO 17 GRADUATED IN A GRAND CEREMONY

Defence Services Command and Staff College witnessed the crowning moment of achievement of the Course No 17 at DSCSC General Convocation 2023 held on 14 December 2023 at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapakse Theatre. Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Minister of Technology and Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The honorable members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished invitees, former commandants of the college, serving senior officers from tri services, members of the academia, members of the Board of Management, the staff of the college along with spouses and parents of the graduates added vibrance and glamour to the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated the new graduates on their milestone achievement in their military career. He also commended the untiring commitment of the staff of the college headed by Major General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP psc IG, the Commandant of DSCSC and to endow professionally equipped military officers to the nation. He further elaborated the need for a broader international perspective in military education and highlighted the evolving global landscape.

The Course No 17 commenced on 04 January 2023 and concluded on 14 December 2023. A total of 148 officers i.e. 72 officers from the Sri Lanka Army, 26 officers from the Sri Lanka Navy, 24 officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, 01 officer from the Sri Lanka Police, 02 officers from Bangladesh, 03 officers from India, 01 officer from Indonesia, 01 officer from Maldives, 02 officers from Nepal, 02 officers from Pakistan, 01 officer from Rwanda, 10 officers from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 01 officer from Senegal, 01 officer from United States of America, and 01 officer from Zambia were graduated on this occasion. It is also important to mention that, this is the 15 consecutive years that DSCSC has trained student officers from friendly foreign countries.

Evaluated on a common criterion in 3 different levels, special awards were awarded to most outstanding graduates of each wing who have excelled in academics with vital analytical skills and demonstrated ability to perform, achieve, and excel, while performing leadership roles with self-confidence, persistence and comradeship;

Golden Owl Awards:

Most outstanding Sri Lankan Student Officer of the Army Wing –

Maj W B C D Wijepala from Sri Lanka Armourd Corps

Most outstanding Allied Student Officer of the Army Wing –

Maj Rohit (India)

Most outstanding Sri Lankan Student Officer of the Naval Wing –

Lieutenant Commander (ASW) J M H I Bandara

Most outstanding Allied Student Officer of the Naval Wing –

Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma (India)

Most outstanding Sri Lankan Student Officer of the Air wing –

Squadron Leader G D D P Senarathna

Most outstanding Allied Student Officer of the Air wing –

Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan (India)

Commandant’s Honours Award

“Commandants Honours” Award is presented to officers who obtain the highest aggregate in the overall grading and outstanding performances displayed during the entire course of training.

Recipients of the Army Wing

Maj W B C D Wijepala – Sri Lanka Armourd Corps
Maj M L T P Liyanaarachchi – Commando Regiment
Maj M D Jubaer Alam psc – Bangladesh
Maj Harry Gim – United States of America

Recipients of the Naval Wing

Lieutenant Commander (ASW) J M H I Bandara – Sri Lanka Navy
Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma – India

Recipients of the Air Wing

Squadron Leader G D D P Senarathna – Sri Lanka Air Force

‘Golden Pen’ Award

The Golden Pen Award was presented to the Student Officer who produced the best Commandant’s Research Paper from the three wings.

Lieutenant Commander (ASW) J M H I Bandara – Sri Lanka Navy

Further, fulfilling a national requirement of providing an academic forum for the defence and security, the Defence Services Command and Staff College published the 8th edition of the ‘Security Journal’ publication consisting of scholarly articles in the field of security and related topics in the profession of arms. Moreover, a copy of “Owlet” the publication about the DSCSC Course No 17 was presented to the President on the occasion by the editorial committee.

The Commandant wishes to extend his sincere appreciation for the gracious presence of all invited dignitaries at the graduation ceremony that added immense honour and significance to the event, making it a truly memorable occasion profoundly felt by each student as they crossed this important milestone.

Whilst conveying its warmest greetings and compliments to the new graduates for achieving their academic excellence, the college welcomes the alumni to its professional entity to shoulder the future challenges of the nation. Moreover, the DSCSC also congratulates all the foreign graduates and conveys its greetings to their loved ones. The college enjoys the humble pride of being a stake holder of strengthening intercontinental relation through its educational partnership, and it is looking forward to solidify its network further as a globally recognized university.