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QUALIT Y JANUARY 2024

General Sir John Kotelawala

Defence University

ABOUT KDU

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was initially established as
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy by the Parliamentary Act No. 68 of
1981. The Academy was elevated to university status by the Sir John Kotelawala
Defence Academy (Amendment) Act No. 27 of 1988, and it was renamed as
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University on 11 October 2007. Degrees
awarded by the University are recognized by the University Grants Commission
(UGC) in Sri Lanka, and the University is also a member of the Association of
Commonwealth Universities (United Kingdom) and the International Association
of Universities (IAU).
The University is situated in Ratmalana on a 48-acre plot of land that was
formerly the residence of the late General Sir John Kotelawala, Sri Lanka’s third
prime minister. This stunning estate is enhanced by a magnificent lake, its natural
surroundings, and a variety of rare and unusual species of fauna and flora that
have been meticulously maintained to preserve the antiquity of the premises.
Throughout its 41-year history, KDU has made every effort to meet the needs
of the services, producing more than 3500 graduates for the Tri-services of Sri
Lanka. This is because the university’s primary objective is to produce highly
qualified graduates for the Tri-services in Sri Lanka. Additionally, KDU has
improved the overall quality of higher education for Service personnel as a
result of its association with other regional military training institutes, which has
also boosted the number of graduates it produces each year.
KDU has just started offering degree programmes for Day Scholars on a fee-levying
basis, giving many deserving young people in Sri Lanka the chance to pursue a
university education of the highest quality. By doing this, KDU aims to create a
learning atmosphere where both Day-Scholars and Officer Cadets can benefit.
Whereas Day-Scholars are given the chance to learn in a disciplined atmosphere
and establish themselves as highly acceptable in modern society. Together with
Officer Cadets, Day Scholars have the chance to participate in extracurricular
activities including athletics, club activities, field study programmes, etc., giving
them the chance to hone their leadership and soft skills and gain a competitive
edge in the job market.
With the opening of KDU degree programmes for Day-Scholars in 2010, KDU
also commenced attracting foreign students for its degree programmes from
SAARC and other friendly countries on fee-levying basis. It has currently enrolled
nearly two hundred and sixty foreign students in its degree programmes and
the increase in numbers is an indication of the recognition KDU has earned
internationally for its degree programmes. Further, this venture has enabled
KDU to contribute to the national economy by earning a considerable amount of
foreign exchange through its high quality degree programmes in all disciplines.

Department of Industrial Quality Management
Department of Industrial Quality Management
6 Department of Industrial Quality Management Department of Industrial Quality Management 7
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University