The second national level camp of the National Cadet Corps in 2023, Western Band Cadet Championship- 2023 which commenced on 18 September 2023 with the participation of 42 boy and 10 girl Western Band Cadet Platoons, representing all 09 provinces of Sri Lanka had their Passing Out Parade and the Award Ceremony on 24 September 2023.Brig Sudantha Fonseka USP psc, Director, National Cadet Corps graced this grand annual parade as the Chief Guest.Addressing the Parade, standing with the pride of the Corps Colour Squad, the Chief Guest initially thanked the Officers, Principals, teachers and parents who helped groom these young school students who ought to be future leaders of our nation, for their sheer dedication and commitment. He also explained the way forward plan of the National Cadet Corps which has been made with the aim of improving the standard and the quality of National Cadet Corps by a number of steps taken and implementations done such as commencing a second Training Centre at Mullaitivu, enlisting 1000 Principals in this year as NCC Officers, developing infrastructure facilities in NCC Training Centre Rantembe, amending the cadet syllabus and changing the cadet uniform to cope with the present dynamic world, and also about strengthening the ties among SAARC counterparts giving more chances for cadets to mingle with overseas cadets and gain international exposure. He explained the future opportunities for cadets to follow courses at reputed institutes like technical colleges under the patronage of Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education. The Director NCC thanked Honourable President, Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor, State Minister of Defence and Secretary Defence for the guidance and assistance giving to uplift the National Cadet Corps and also the Minister of Education, all senior officers at MOE and Directors of Education who help NCC by directing and motivating Principals, teachers and cadets to under go cadet training with the aim of becoming true leaders to nation.These future leaders who have been inculcated good values, discipline, and good physique by the National Cadet Corps through cadeting activities which is regarded as a life skills and leadership development programme implemented in schools under the guidance of Ministry of Defence and the coordination of Ministry of Education, will be sent back to their schools with the given aim of leading other students as prefects and cadets of those colleges and there by to groom as leaders of the nation and disciplined citizens in due course.

For the year 2023, Boys Western Band Cadet Runner up Trophy was won by Bandaranayake College, Gampaha, 7th Battalion and the Boys Western Band Cadet Championship Trophy was won by Royal College, Colombo, 3rd Battalion.Girls Western Band Cadet Runner up Trophy was won by Sirimavo Bandaranayake College, Colombo, 3rd Battalion and the Girls Western Band Cadet Championship was won by Newsted Girls’ College, Negombo, 7th Battalion.Individual Performances.Best Runner Boys- L/Cpl Kaluarachchi KAKTV, DS Senanayaka College, Mirigama, 7th Battalion.Girls- Cdt Vihangi MGO, CMS Sri Jayawaradanepura College, Kotte, 19th Battalion.Best Shooter.L/ Cpl Bandara EAIS, Mahanama College, Colombo, 3rd Battalion.Girls – Cdt Gallege, MP, Sirimavo Bandaranayake College, Colombo,3rd Battalion.Best Band Sergeant.Boys- Sgt Darmasiri WAKU Bandaranayake College Gampaha, 7th Battalion.Girls – Sgt Methpani BDS, Sirimavo Bandaranayake College Colombo, 3rd Battalion.Best Commander- Physical Exercise.Boys- Sgt Hearth HMJ NB, Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, 4th Battalion.Girls – Sgt De Silva DTM Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, 1st Battalion.Best Commander- DrillBoys – Capt Asanka Ranasinghe, Bandaranayake College, Veyangoda, 7th Battalion.Girls – Sgt Jayawardena KMKH, Newsted Girls’ College, Negombo, 7th Battalion.