Over the last 41 years of its proud history, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) has produced a large number of tri-service officers of very high calibre, and they have extended an invaluable service to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland.

Among them were 109 KDU officers (Army 64, Navy 33, Air Force 12) sacrificed their lives, valiantly fighting against threats posed against the motherland (Please see the roll of honour https://kdualumni.lk/ )

On the request and guidance of the Vice Chancellor, Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, the Alumni Association of KDU accomplished the noble endeavour of establishing a war heroes’ monument at KDU premises at Ratmalana as a tribute to those war heroes for their immeasurable sacrifice.

The newly constructed KDU War Heroes’ Monument was ceremonially dedicated on the 17th of February 2023 by the Chief Guest, Honourable Dinesh Gunawardena, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Among the distinguished participants at this occasion were the Chancellor of KDU General (Retd.) Shantha Kottegoda WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence General (Retd) General Kamal Gunaratne WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Wikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, RSP **, USP, ndu, psc and the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa.

Construction work of the memorial began in January 2022 and the initial estimate for the construction work was Rs 28 million. Initially the Chairman of the BPP Engineering Ltd, Lt Gratian Fernando (Retired- Sri Lanka Navy, Intake- 5) volunteered to undertake the construction work at a cost of Rs 20 million. However due to the then prevailed economic situation in the country, Lt Gratian Fernando was not in a position to further the project. Moreover it is noteworthy to mention the significant contribution made by following personnel in the construction process.

• Major General KRP Rowel (Retired) RWP VSV USP ndu USACGSC - President of KDU Alumni Association who tirelessly spearheaded the project
• Brigadier RGU Rajapakshe (Retired) RSP psc BSc(DS), KDA, MSc(DS) Kelaniya, MASS(NDU) Washington DC - Vice President Sri Lanka Army, KDU Alumni Association who closely coordinated the project,
• Executive committee and all members of the kdu alumni association who donated/ raised required funds for the project,
• Air Vice Martial (Retd) Rohan Pathirage, the Director General of Defence Headquarters Complex Construction Project by providing required material and resources,
• Commodore Hiran Balasuriya (KDA- 8), the Director Naval Civil Engineering of Sri Lanka Navy by providing machines and required materials,
• Professor WCDK Fernando, Eng BHJ Pushpakumara of Department of Civil Engineering – KDU, Dr AH Lakmal, Dean Faculty of Built Environment and Spatial Sciences (FBESS), Ms Minosha Sanjunee of FBESS for providing expert ideas and assisting during various stages of construction of the War Heroes’ memorial,
• Mr Senake Darmatilake, The Main Architect of the memorial design whose assistance was honorary in all design works,
• Mr Supun Lakruwan Jayatilake, The Sculptor who finely art worked the Tri-Service Officers’ Sculpture,
• All Academic and non-academic staff of KDU,

Construction of KDU War Heroes’ memorial was accomplished by the monetary, material and other various assistance from KDU Alumni members under the directives/ guidance of President of KDU Alumni Association Major General KRP Rowel (Retd) RWP VSV USP NDU USACGSC and Vice President Army Brigadier RGU Rajapakshe (Retd) RSP psc. during the entire endeavor.

Hon Prime Minister, Secretary of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Commanders of the Army and Navy and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Rector Metropolitan Campus KDU Major General Lal Gunasekara RSP USP psc, Rector Southern Campus KDU Major General LCR Jayasuriya RSP ndc psc, DVC (Defence & Administration) Brigadier Chinthaka Wicramasinghe, DVC (Academic) Professor Sanath Dammika, the Chairman Major General KRP Rowel (Retd) RWP VSV USP NDU USACGSC and members of the Alumni Association of KDU, Next of Kins of the War Heroes laid floral tributes at the newly dedicated KDU War Heroes’ Monument.

The conceptualization of this monument is as follows;

Outer Bastion with Ramparts -Symbolizes the avenues which were open for those fallen war heroes of Tri-Services to join KDU, regardless of their differences in ethnic, religious, or social backgrounds and to come together to serve the nation. The all-round ‘Evenness’ of the Triangular Base further denotes the ‘Oneness’ of those fallen war heroes with ‘Esprit De Corps’.

Inner Bastion forming the base to the Pentagon - Denotes the supreme commitment by those fallen war heroes in defending the nation from threats posed from land, sea and air.

Each Side of the Pentagonal Base - Denotes the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force and Military and Civilian Staff of KDU.

The Pose of the Sculpture of Tri-Service Officers on the Pentagonal Base Denote the bondage of the Tri-Service Officers graduated from KDU during War and Peace.

The Broken Spear on the Pentagonal Base - Denotes the time at which the Tri-Service Officers from KDU made the supreme sacrifice whilst performing their duties as the motto goes ‘For the Motherland Forever’, due to which their potential to reach the zenith of their military career came to an untimely rest.

The Memorial Monument will remain as a symbol of reminiscence of KDU War Heroes for years to come, and the grateful nation will salute them with respect for ever.

(Courtesy – https://www.kdu.ac.lk/)