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16th December 2025 14:01:40 Hours
The Army War College (AWC) Buttala, Sri Lanka, hosted a dignified Graduation Ceremony for the Third Trimester of 2025, on 15 December 2025, at the AWC Auditorium. A total of 151 officers successfully completed the Senior Command Course No 15 (SCC 15), Junior Command Course No 34 (JCC 34), and Junior Staff Course No. 30 (JSC 30), marking a significant milestone in their military careers.
Major General PS Subath Sanjeewa RSP nps psc, Commandant of the Army War College, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, endorsing the register that stands testimony to the achievements of the graduates. The ceremony was a celebration of the graduates’ hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
The SCC 15 comprised 51 Student Officers from various regiments of the Sri Lanka Army, while JCC 34 included 70 Student Officers from the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with 4 Foreign Officers from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Pakistan together with one Student Officer each from Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force. JSC 30 comprised 30 Student Officers, including an officer from the Sri Lanka Navy.
During the ceremony, Foreign Student Officers were recognised for their outstanding contributions, receiving plaques as tokens of appreciation for representing their nations and sharing cross-cultural experiences. Officers from the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force were also awarded special plaques, acknowledging the importance of inter-services collaboration.
In recognition of the outstanding academic excellence, professional competence, and intellectual rigor demonstrated by the Student Officers of the SCC, JCC and JSC, the Commandant presented certificates and special awards to the most deserving officers. These awards reflect the Army War College’s commitment to fostering strategic thinking, leadership excellence, and scholarly contribution.
Senior Command Course Awards:
Best Service Paper: Maj RMST Ranasinghe USP psc SLA
Best Case Study: Lt Col HMSS Bandara USP psc SLAC
Junior Command Course Awards:
First in Order of Merit: Maj TCU Fernando SLAC
Second in Order of Merit: Maj RMICS Bandara GR
Third in Order of Merit: Maj HUD Karunarathna MIR
Best Service Paper Awards:
Local Student Officer: Capt JKKG Jayasinghe GW
Foreign Student Officer: Capt Ali Shujau – Maldives National Defence Force
Best Foreign Officer Award: Maj Durgeash Pal – Indian Army
Junior Staff Course Awards:
First in Order of Merit: Capt JCK Jakodi SLAC
Second in Order of Merit: Capt SHPP Thilakarathne SLSC
Third in Order of Merit: Lt CMM Rukshan GR
A Testament to Professional Excellence
The achievements of these Student Officers stand as a testament to their unwavering commitment, intellectual discipline, and professional growth. Their success not only brings honour to their respective regiments and nations but also strengthens the proud legacy of excellence upheld by the Army War College.
Commandant’s Honour
At the Army War College, intellectual rigor, professional discipline, and leadership excellence form the cornerstone of every officer’s development. In recognition of these ideals, the Commandant’s Honour is conferred as a mark of exceptional dedication, exemplary performance, and unwavering commitment to professional and academic excellence.
This prestigious award not only celebrates outstanding achievement but also inspires fellow Student Officers to uphold the highest standards of leadership and scholarship.
The following officers have demonstrated remarkable dedication, intellectual acumen, and leadership capability, embodying the finest traditions of the Army War College, and were awarded the Commandant’s Honour:
Maj TCU Fernando SLAC
Capt JCK Jakodi SLAC
Capt SHPP Thilakarathne SLSC
Capt AS Hemal SLAC
Lt CMM Rukshan GR
Deputy Commandant, Brigadier PPC Perera psc, the Chief Instructor, Colonel DPASA Witharana psc, and the Senior Instructor of Junior Command Wing, Colonel LAN Liyanarachchi psc presented certificates to the graduates. Family members of the Student Officers also joined the ceremony, celebrating the achievements of their loved ones.
In his Graduation Speech inspiring the Excellence and Leadership; Major General PS Subath Sanjeewa RSP nps psc, Commandant of the Army War College, emphasised the importance of leadership, strategic thinking, and military professionalism in achieving success. He urged graduates to continue learning and upgrading their military knowledge, noting that ‘the strength of an Army lies in the expertise of its officers’ and he expressed confidence in their ability to lead with strategic insight and wisdom. He encouraged them to apply the lessons learned and experiences gained to future requirements, paving the way for new heights of success.
The Commandant expressed his gratitude to the Foreign Student Officers for their active participation and warmly acknowledged the valuable contributions of the faculty, staff, and family members for their unwavering support and dedication. He extended his best wishes to the graduates, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence in all their future endeavours.
The ceremony highlighted the Army War College’s commitment to academic excellence, strategic relevance, and national security, reinforcing its role as a Centre of Excellence in Strategic Studies. The achievements of these officers stand as a testament to dedication, discipline, and professional growth, bringing honour to their regiments, nations, and the proud legacy of the Army War College.
