Twenty-five (25) Navy officers earn prestigious passed staff course credentials

The graduation ceremony of Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Sapugaskanda Course No. 19 was held at Nelum Pokuna Theatre on 16 Dec 25. The event, honoured by the presence of Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, as the Chief Guest, also saw the attendance of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.

The Course No. 19 of DSCSC commenced on 06 Jan 25. A total of 149 officers comprising of 74 officers from the Sri Lanka Army, 25 officers from the Sri Lanka Navy, 24 officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force as well as 26 foreign officers comprising 14 Army, 04 Navy and 08 Air Force officers representing Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Zambia completed this year’s course.

Upon successful completion of the course of study, 25 officers of the Sri Lanka Navy were conferred the ‘psc’ (Passed Staff College) qualification. Stealing the spotlight at the graduation ceremony, Commander (G) Manjula Hewasinghe clinched the Commandant’s Honours Award and Golden Owl Award for academic excellence. In addition, Lieutenant Commander (S) Kapila Bandara secured the Golden Pen Award for the best Commandant’s Research Paper of the course.

Diplomatic corps, the Hon. Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, the Commandant DSCSC, Major General Shantha Hewage, Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara (Retd), senior officers from tri-services as well as the academic and directing staff of DSCSC and officers of Course No. 19 were also present on this occasion.