FROM STUDY TO STRATEGY: WAR STUDY PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS ARMY WAR COLLEGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Army War College has achieved a significant milestone in its history with the successful conduct of a comprehensive War Study, bringing together 27 Student Officers from diverse command and staff backgrounds, including the Senior Command Course (SCC), Junior Command Course (JCC), and Junior Staff Course (JSC). The study examined the critical theme “Emerging Trends and Challenges in Modern Land Warfare and Their Strategic Implications for Sri Lanka”. This pioneering initiative, spearheaded by Major General Subath Sanjeewa RSP nps psc, Commandant Army War College, marks a paradigm shift in strategic-level learning and sets a new benchmark in professional military education.

The participants of the presentation included officers from the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy, as well as foreign student officers from India and the Maldives, reflecting the Army War College’s commitment to regional cooperation and knowledge sharing. The diverse group of Student Officers worked collaboratively to analyse the complex theme, sharing operational experience and professional expertise to produce a comprehensive and insightful study.

Under the visionary leadership of Maj Gen Subath Sanjeewa RSP nps psc, the War Study syndicate adopted a whole-of-institution approach, directed by Colonel Nalaka Liyanaarachchi psc, Senior Instructor of the Junior Command Course, and conducted under the guidance of Colonel Suranga Witharan psc, Chief Instructor. This innovative approach integrated the academic efforts of all three courses, enabling a unified analytical framework that synthesized tactical, operational, and strategic perspectives, while fostering meaningful intellectual engagement. A distinctive feature of the study was its extensive engagement with subject matter experts beyond the military domain, including economic specialists, senior officers, and leading intellectuals, who provided valuable insights into economic constraints, technological trends, and national security priorities.

The War Study highlighted the need for the Sri Lanka Army to transform into a modern, agile, and multi-domain force capable of addressing emerging threats and challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. It analysed global trends shaping modern land warfare, identified key strategic drivers, and proposed recommendations to evolve the Army into a capability-centric, network-enabled, and digitally resilient force. The proposed transformation emphasised innovation, integration, and sustainability, including the establishment of a National Defence Framework, a Cyber and Information Warfare Directorate, and modular force restructuring, to ensure national sovereignty and enhance regional credibility.

This War Study presentation conducted was held on 14 December 2025, a day prior to the Graduation Ceremony 3-2025 of SCC 15, JCC 34, and JSC 30. The initiative demonstrates the Army War College’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, strategic relevance, and national security, reinforcing its role as a Centre of Excellence in Strategic Studies.

The Commandant’s initiative has established a new benchmark in professional military education, with lasting impact. This pioneering approach underscores the enduring value of integrated learning, evidence-based analysis, and strategic thinking in addressing complex national security challenges.