Defence Services Command and Staff College

DEFENCE SERVICES COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE DELEGATION ON INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION STUDY PACKAGE (DDICSP) 2026

The Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Delegation on International Collaboration Study Package (DDICSP), an important annual event in the College training calendar, was conducted from 27 July to 09 August 2026. The programme provides Course Participants with valuable international exposure and an opportunity to study the application of the instruments of national power in the host countries, while comparing their strategic, economic, military and socio-cultural environments with those of Sri Lanka and other nations. Furthermore, the DDICSP is designed to broaden the strategic outlook of Course Participants by exposing them to diverse national security environments, defence establishments, governance structures and approaches to national development. It also creates a valuable platform to strengthen professional interaction, military diplomacy and mutual understanding between the DSCSC and counterpart institutions and defence establishments of the countries visited.

During DDICSP 2026, DSCSC delegations comprising Faculty Members, Local Course Participants and Foreign Course Participants undertook study visits to Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, The Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand and Turkey. This International Study Package offered the delegations an opportunity to engage with military establishments, defence and strategic studies institutions, government organisations and other establishments of national importance in the respective countries.

Throughout the visits, the delegations participated in professional interactions, briefings, discussions and institutional visits that provided valuable insights into the respective countries’ strategic environments, defence policies, security challenges and national development priorities. These engagements enabled the Course Participants to gain a broader understanding of how different nations employ their instruments of national power in pursuit of national interests and respond to contemporary security challenges.

The programme further provided opportunities for the delegations to interact with senior military officers, academics, officials and professionals of the host nations. Such engagements facilitated the exchange of professional knowledge and perspectives while strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the armed forces and professional military education institutions of Sri Lanka and the respective countries.

In addition to its professional and academic dimensions, the DDICSP exposed Course Participants to the historical, cultural and socio-economic characteristics of the countries visited. These experiences contributed significantly towards developing a wider appreciation of different societies and cultures, an essential attribute for military officers operating in an increasingly interconnected and complex international security environment.

The successful conduct of DDICSP 2026 marked another significant milestone in the DSCSC’s commitment to providing its Course Participants with a comprehensive professional military education enriched by international exposure. The knowledge, experience and professional relationships gained through the programme will contribute towards enhancing their strategic outlook and preparing them for higher command and staff responsibilities.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION STUDY _2026_02