Air Vice Marshal Indika Wickramasinghe has officially assumed duties as the new Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
He took office on September 1, 2026, signing his first official document amidst the chanting of Pirith by the Maha Sangha.
A seasoned aeronautical engineer, Wickramasinghe has held several key engineering appointments in the Sri Lanka Air Force, including Director General General Engineering and Director General Aeronautical Engineering.
The assumption of duties was marked by a guard turnout, a ceremonial parade featuring KDU colours, and a symbolic tree planting. The event was attended by Deputy Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Deans, Centre Directors, senior tri‑service and administrative staff, as well as officer cadets and day scholars.
Later in the morning, the new Vice Chancellor addressed the Deans of all faculties, outlining his vision to elevate KDU’s standards through quality education, academic excellence, and enhanced research output. He called on staff members to extend their full support and active contribution toward achieving these objectives.
Wickramasinghe expressed gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for appointing him to the post and to the Commander of the Air Force for nominating him.
He also acknowledged the guidance of Commandants, Commanding Officers, lecturers, and instructors of the former Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA), crediting their mentorship during his formative years for preparing him to shoulder the responsibilities of Vice Chancellor. (Newswire)
