Hon Premitha Bandara Tennakoon (MP), State Minister of Defence, addressed the Officers of NCC who belong to Principal Service and Education Administrative service at the Army Headquarters situated at the Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, on 31^st of March.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence General (rtd) Kamal Guneratne and Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army Maj Gen Channa Weerasuriya, Adjutant General Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe, Director Personnel Administration Brig Upul Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka Army attended this special occasion.

The NCC Officers belonging to Sri Lanka Principal Service and Education Administrative service, Staff Officers of HQ NCC gathered at Army Headquarters to attend the address by the State Minister of Defence officially for the first time.  

Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army Maj Gen Channa Weerasuriya and Director NCC Brig Sudantha Fonseka warmly received the State Minister on his arrival and accompanied him for a cordial interaction with the NCC officers who had arrived at the AHQ.

Director NCC conducted the introductory speech before the State Minister of Defence addressed the Officers.

The State Minister, addressing the audience, appreciated the valuable services rendered by the National Cadet Corps during the terrorist conflict and in postwar national development process.

In his speech, he highlighted the importance of the NCC training in making disciplined and productive citizens, while they are at school. He also stated that more opportunities will also be provided for Tamil and Muslim schools in addition to the present allocation of intake in NCC training.

Further he said the curriculum of the NCC shall be revised in future to suit the emerging trends while also focusing the attention to expand and facilitate NCC training at alternative location besides the Rantambe NCC Training Centre.

At the end of the Officers address, the Director NCC presented mementos to visiting high officials as a gesture of goodwill and to mark the event. Thereafter, all had attended a group photograph which culminated the first part of the day’s event.

Subsequent to the departure of the dignitaries, the second session was commenced where the Director NCC addressed the participants highlighting the way forward of the NCC and what he expected from Officers to achieve the vision and the mission of the NCC. Before the end the second session, Director allowed all attendees to share their thoughts, views, recommendations and ended the session. The second session was made colourful by the Army dancing team.  Finally, the Director and all whom were present participated for the lunch organized at the Officers’ Mess.

Director and Staff of HQ NCC thanked the State Minister, Secretary of Defence, Commander of the Army, Chief of Staff, Adjutant General, Director Personnel Administration and all Army HQ Staff who supported to make this event a success in a high magnitude.