Buttala OCDC Begins Its 12th Seminar for Officers

Fulfilling a long-felt necessity of the Officer Career Development Centre, Buttala, newly constructed premises for Academic learning ‘The Academic Nexus’, was declared open by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General NUMMW Senanayaka RWP RSP VSV USP USACGSC this morning whilst attending the inauguration ceremony of the Seminar 2/2018 at OCDC.

The OCDC was inagurated on 23 January 2012 at the former Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University of Sabaragamuwa after the acquisition of the faculty premises by the Sri Lanka Army. Since then there was a dire need of a proper Academic building even though the OCDC managed to conduct courses for junior and middle grade officers amidst heavy administrative and logistics hassles since its inception. The brain child of this Academic building was born in the mind of the former Commandant, Major General ND Wanniarachchi WWV RWP RSP USP ndc IG and under his guidance the master plan was drawn to construct the new Academic building at the present location. The foundation stone was laid by the former Commandant Major General ND Wanniarachchi WWV RWP RSP USP ndc in the year 2014.

This is a three story building with a basement that accommodates the Exchange Room, Communication stores and the office for the Signal Officer. The ground floor which is allocated for the Unit Command Course and the Higher Command course to be commenced in the future has five syndicate rooms and office rooms for Directing staff and the respective Senior Instructors. The first floor which is allocated for the Junior Command Course has six syndicate rooms and office rooms for the Chief instructor of the Defence Studies Wing, the Senior Instructor and the Directing staff. The Second floor which is allocated for the Junior Staff Course has three syndicate rooms, a record room, a mini auditorium of 150 seating capacity and office rooms for the Senior Instructor, the Directing staff and the English Training Section. All the floors are facilitated with a tea bar each and a toilet complex for both males and females. All the office rooms, Auditorium and the syndicate rooms are fully Air Conditioned which facilitates student officers a comfortable learning. This Academic building was constructed at a cost of Rs 89 million by the Sri Lanka Army Engineer Service Regiment.

The Commander also declared open the ‘Block One’ the new accommodation building which is dedicated for the foreign student officers attending courses at OCDC which is also a much needed requirement at OCDC. With this new accommodation building, foreign student officers will be absolutely comfortable. This building has fully furnished twelve rooms with attached bathrooms. Each room has an Air Conditioner and a refrigerator other than all the furniture required by a student. The building was constructed at a cost of Rs 21.5 million by the Sri Lanka Army Engineer Service Regiment.

Completing two massive projects within a short span of time was a miracle. This laborious task would not have become a reality without the effort of the Commandant, Brigadier DMDCD Gunawardena RWP USP ndc psc and his able team. The untiring effort taken by the Garrison Engineer of the Officer Career Development Centre, Captain HRM Hettiarachchi CES worth mentioning with high gratitude. Without his positive attitude, commitment and dedication this arduous project wouldn’t have become realistic.

The dream of OCDC will never come to an end. The OCDC is ready to undertake the next mega project which includes construction of three Student Accommodation buildings, a fully-fledged Fitness Centre, the Dining Hall and Kitchen of the New Officers’ Mess and the Ground Floor of the new Headquarter building. Though 2019 is going to be tough, OCDC is ready to meet the challenge