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Graduation Ceremony of No 48th Junior Command and Staff Course

The Graduation Ceremony of No 48 Junior Commanders Course was held at the Junior Command and Staff College auditorium at Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay on 3 August 2015. The Director Logistics of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Vice Marshal DLS Dias graced the occasion as the chief guest.

A total of 18 officers of the ranks of Squadron Leader and Flight Lieutenant from the Sri Lanka Air Force, 4 officers in the ranks of Lieutenant Commander and Lieutenant from the Sri Lanka Navy, and 1 officer of the Bangladesh Air Force followed the course.

The Junior Commanders Course is accredited by the Kothalawala Defence University and the Officers those who fulfill the required criteria will be awarded with a Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management.

The Officers are required to endure a 14 weeks course.  It is a full time residential course with all compulsory modules suited to fulfill the command and staff duties requirements of the Sri Lanka Air Force. As an adult education programme, the course is conducted on knowledge sharing basis where the course participants are expected to actively seek out knowledge under the guidance of the directing staff as well as visiting lecturers.  

The course participants carry out an independent research and submit a research paper to the Kothalawala Defence University. The course curriculum is also designed to promote the development of English and IT skills. Great emphasis is also laid on the development of public speaking skills.

The course participants are also taken on an organized study tour to a number of selected outside organizations in order to provide them with an overview of various management challenges that may confront them and to identify the ways and means to meet them.

Physical fitness is also an important part of the curriculum and a regular programme of physical fitness training and organized games are included to ensure not only that the course participants maintain their fitness during the course but also to encourage them to make it a routine part of their lives.  
 
The following officers received special awards at the Graduation Ceremony.

Best All Round Officer
Sqn Ldr NKNS Nanayakkara (02629) E/Eng

Best Book Review
LCdr     WDD Rodrigo from SLN (NRX2250) Executive

Best Sportsman
Flt Lt AARL Jayatissa (02859) GD/P

Excellence in Management Studies
Sqn Ldr NKNS Nanayakkara (02629) E/Eng

Best in Public Speaking
Sqn Ldr OKNC Gunasekara (02583) E/Eng

Best in Academics
Flt Lt ANH Mendis (02651) Medical

ADDITIONAL DETAILS - Best All Round Officers
                  
5th Place  -    L Cdr GLSD Silva (NRX 1878) Executive
4th Place  -    L Cdr WDD Rodrigo (NRX 2250) Executive
3rd Place  -    Flt Lt Abdullah Md Farabi (BD/9403) GD/P
2nd Place -    Flt Lt ANH Mendis (02651) Medical
1st Place  -    Sqn Ldr NKNS Nanayakkara (02629) E/Eng