NCC spreads its wings under Defence State Minister’s patronage
September 05, 2023- State Minister formally takes over the 2nd NCC Training Centre at Mullaitivu
Hon Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, State Minister of Defence ceremonially took over the Training Facility in Mullaitivu hitherto used by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on 04 September, in order to setup the National Cadet Corps (NCC) wing in Mullaitivu.
Accordingly, the Training Facility belonging to the Infantry Battalion Training Centre of the 59 Division of SLA located at Mullaitivu was handed over to the State Minister Tennakoon by Maj. Gen. MK Jayawardena, Commander, SF-HQ Mullaitivu on behalf of the Army Commander in the presence of Commander, 59 Division Maj. Gen. DKAK Dolage and NCC Director Brig. G.S. Fonseka.
The NCC Training Centre at Rantambe is the only institute dedicated to training school children to become future leaders.
As envisioned by the NCC this added facility will be employed for the training of NCC officers and cadets with a view of enhancing the number of cadets attending battalion, provincial and national level camps. It also expects to cater to the rising demand for cadetting and leadership training programmes which also benefit in grooming future leaders.
Once operational, this new facility would provide a giant leap forward in promoting cadetting in the Island in keeping with the notion of the Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe to create a Cadet Platoon in every National School in the country and to facilitate training and making future leaders within the setup. This would enable to build unity and harmony within the framework of reconciliation between the north-east and the southern part of the country.
The government has already made arrangements to enlist 1000 officers for the NCC from the Education Administration Service, Principals’ Service and Teachers’ Service.
President Wickremasinghe pioneered the forming of the NCC as an independent entity under the purview of the Defence Ministry in 1988 and supported to acquire the Training Centre, Rantambe in 1990.
The NCC was awarded the President's Colours and NCC Colours in 2023.
Senior military officers, NCC Northern Provincial Deputy Director Col. DMG Dissanayake, Commanding Officers, officers and cadets were present at the occasion.
