Popularising cadetting vital to produce disciplined citizens - Defence Secretary
January 23, 2020Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said popularising cadetting in schools could produce disciplined and law abiding citizens.
He said this should be started from schools under a properly formulated plan implemented by the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
Addressing NCC officers during a visit to the NCC Headquarters at Pamankada, today (23), he said the NCC needed to be committed to regain its glorious past, where more school children joined cadetting.
Maj. Gen. Gunaratne assured his fullest assistance to the NCC.
The NCC functions under the purview of Defence Ministry. It is one of Sri Lanka's oldest and largest youth organizations.
According to the NCC, at present there are 29 boys and 9 girls battalions involving over 3,000 schools, nearly 85,000 cadets and over 3,000 officers in the senior and junior divisions of the Corps.
With a long history which dates back to 1881, cadetting first began in Royal College, Colombo by the then principal John B. Cull to promote discipline among young students. Later, it was developed to be an auxiliary to the Ceylon Light Infantry and the NCC was expanded to other schools.
Today, cadet platoons are formed in most schools including the schools in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
He was received by NCC Director Maj. Gen. (Retd) Ruwan Kulatunga at the Headquarters and was accorded a Guard Turnout by the Cadet Platoon of Ananda College, Colombo.Making his first visit to the NCC Headquarters since assuming office as the Defence Secretary, Maj. Gen (Retd) Gunaratne made an inspection visit to various sections of the premises and inquired into their operations.
Deputy Directors, Regional Directors and senior officers were also present at the occasion.
