Former Navy Commander Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne said that General Sir John Kotelawala donated all his wealth, including the Kandawala Estate to the then Army Commander General Dennis Perera to establish a State Defence University. Therefore, the sudden move to abolish 50% concession in course fees granted to children of military personnel studying at the Kotelawala Defence University should be reversed, one-time Chief of Defence Staff told The Island.
The outspoken retired officer, who also served as the Chief of Defence Staff Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Islamabad, said the KDU was for the military and military children. “That should be the priority, Wijegunaratne said, adding that the Chancellor of KDU General Shantha Kottegoda and VC, KDU Rear Admiral Dhammika Kumara should explain the situation to the decisionmakers.
Sources said the concession introduced in 2020, on a directive of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had been denied to the day scholars – intake 43 (2025). It was not curtailed even during the worst economic crisis in the country.
Sources said that they expected the retired armed forces grouping that backed the NPP at the presidential and parliamentary polls last year to take up the matter as a matter of priority.
To be eligible for the enrolment under special status, male personnel serving/retired had to complete 20 years in service, and females 15 years.The special concession was created in recognition of the contribution the armed forces made to the task of defeating terrorism in 2009. (SF)