General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was initially established as the "General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy" by the Parliamentary Act No 68 of 1981 and subsequently it was elevated to University status by the amendment Act No 27 of 1988, thereby empowering it to award Bachelors' and Postgraduate degrees in Defence Studies.
KDU is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (United Kingdom) and maintains necessary standards for educating and grooming Officer Cadets to meet the challenges of modern defence management.
KDU is now open for civil students who wish to continue their higher studies in the fields of Engineering, Law, Management, Social Sciences and IT.
Officers with exceptional performance in reputed universities/institutions can pursue postgraduate studies in accordance with the requirements of the Service to which they belong. Civil professionals are also offered a place at postgraduate studies to excel in and study a post graduate degree in their related field of expertise.
Vision
To be a university nationally and internationally known for its unique ability to engage both undergraduate and graduate students in distinctive and interdisciplinary defence related higher education that best serves the tri-services, the state sector and society at large.
Mission
To ensure a high-quality, learner-centered educational experience through undergraduate, graduate, and professional programmes along with high quality research across many disciplines in the field of defence, in both residential and non-residential settings in the campus.
Objectives
• To provide facilities to introduce Officer Cadets to the Profession of Arms and guide them to develop their knowledge and skills in the Profession of Arms, prior to a Commission in the Armed Forces is conferred on them.
• To foster a spirit of comradeship amongst Officer Cadets to develop "jointness" and a sense of national unity amongst the officer corps of the Army, Navy and Air Force so that joint operations are facilitated in the course of their service.
• To provide facilities for and instruction in academic studies to Officer Cadets in preparation for the first degree in such subjects that are relevant to their professional employment.
• To provide courses of study to Officers of the Armed Forces and others selected by the Board of Management to qualify for post-graduate degrees and other qualifications to be awarded by the University in subjects relevant to the Profession of Arms.
• To exercise such other functions including Research and Development as the University may consider necessary for the achievement of its objectives.
