Being economically strong was extremely important in the current strategic environment because today’s warfare was not confrontation between armies, and it was economic, cultural, and technological, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday at the Graduation Ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Course No 16, which was held at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.
President Wickremesinghe said that being a small country does not mean it is weak militarily. “However, you cannot be weak economically. So, this is why I have set about these new reforms which will make us economically strong by 2050,” he said, adding that regional cooperation is vital for stability in the Indian Ocean region.
The President added that the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) is the highest seat of military learning for middle-grade officers of the Tri Forces. This was established to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected Student Officers and a place where all military doctrinal and strategic level planning and teachings were brought under one roof.
President Wickremesinghe was the Chief Guest while Defence Secretary General (Ret.) Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Tri-Forces Commanders and the IGP attended the ceremony as Guests of Honour.
Course No 16 commenced in January this year and concluded in December. A total of 127 officers, comprising 76 Officers from the Sri Lanka Army, 26 Officers from the Sri Lanka Navy, and 25 Officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, graduated at yesterday’s ceremony. In addition, 11 foreign graduates from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Zambia were among those who graduated on the occasion.
Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff of the President, Sagala Ratnayake, Defence Ministry Secretary, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retired), Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage, Vice Chancellor General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Major General Milinda Peiris, Security Service Command and Staff College Commandant Major General B.K.G.M.L. Rodrigo, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne and others participated in this event.