Sri Lanka Armed Forces Training Institutions Explained

The Sri Lankan Armed Forces have established numerous academies and staff colleges across Sri Lanka for the purpose of training professional soldiers in military sciences, warfare command and strategy, and associated technologies.

Ministry of Defense

Several education and military establishments come under the direct preview of the Ministry of Defence and admit members of the armed forces, police and civilians.

Kotelawala Defence University : The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) (Sinhala: ජෙනරාල් සර් ජෝන් කොතලාවල ආරක්ෂක විශ්ව විද්‍යාලය), Ratmalana was founded in 1981 as the Kotelawala Defence Academy to conduct bachelor's degree programs for military cadets from all three services. It has since expanded to include post graduate studies and admits both armed forces personal and civilians.

National Defence College : The National Defence College, Colombo (NDC), established in 2020 is the highest level of strategic training for senior officers of the armed forces, police and civil servants.

Defence Services Command and Staff College : The Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) (Sinhala: ආරක්ෂක සේවා අණ හා මාණ්ඩලික විද්‍යාලය), Makola, established on 1 January 1997 as the Sri Lanka Army Command and Staff College serves as the principle staff college for the armed forces.

Language Training School: The Language Training School, Kotmale is the principle school of Languages for the armed forces.

Defence Services School : The Defence Services School, Colombo was established on 17 of January 2007 as a national school for the children of armed forces and police personnel.

Sri Lanka Army

The institutions under the Army Training Command that train officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army are:

1. Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA)^[1] - The Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa provides initial training for all regular army officers.
2. Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC)^[2] - The Officer Career Development Centre provides mid-career training officers.
3. Army School of Logistics (ASL)^[3] - The Army School of Logistics provides mid-career training for logistics officers.
4. Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS) - Training for volunteer force personal
5. Army Training School (ATS)^[4]
6. Infantry Training Centre (ITC)^[5]
7. Combat Training School (CTS)
8. Army Physical Training School
9. Marksmanship and Sniper Training School (MSTS)
10. Army Vocational Training Center
11. Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (IPSOTSL)^[6] - Training for United Nations peacekeeping.
12. Army Physical Education Centre ^[7]
13. Commando Regiment Training School^[8]
14. Commando Regimental Special Warfare Training School^[9]
15. Special Forces Combat Diving Training School^[10]
16. Special Forces Training School
17. Special Forces Jungle Warfare Training School

Sri Lanka Navy

The Sri Lanka Navy has numerous training establishments;

• Naval & Maritime Academy - SLN Dockyard
• Advanced Naval Training Centre - SLNS Nipuna
• Naval Artificer Training Institute - SLNS Thakshila
• Naval Recruit Training Centre - SLNS Shiksha
• Naval Recruit Training Centre/Combat Training School - SLNS Pandukabaya

Sri Lanka Air Force

The Sri Lanka Air Force has numerous training establishments and units;

Training establishments

• Air Force Academy – SLAF China Bay
  • SLAF Junior Command & Staff College – SLAF China Bay
  • No. 1 Flying Training Wing – SLAF China Bay Pilot Navigators
    • No. 14 Squadron – SLAF China Bay
  • Combat Training School – SLAF China Bay
  • NCO Management School – SLAF China Bay
• Training Wing – SLAF Diyatalawa – Ground combat Recruit course
• Advanced & Specialized Trade Training School | A&STTS – SLAF Ekala. Aircraft Technician, Fixed wing and Rotary wing- Airframe & Powerplant, Aviation Electronics, Safety.
• Basic Trade Training School – SLAF Katunayake. Non-technical administrative, IT training and basic Technical staff
• Regimental Training Centre – SLAF Ampara Combat and EOD
• Gunner Training School – SLAF Palaly Instructors

Notes and References

1. Web site: SLMA. 2020-08-05. alt.army.lk.
2. Web site: International Accountability Network. 2020-08-05. alt.army.lk.
3. Web site: ARMY SCHOOL OF LOGISTICS. 2020-08-06. alt.army.lk.
4. Web site: Training Schools. 2020-08-06. alt.army.lk.
5. Web site: Sri Lanka Army Establishment Sri Lanka Army. 2020-08-06. www.army.lk.
6. Web site: OCDC - BUTHTHALA. 2020-08-06. alt.army.lk.
7. Web site: Sri Lanka Army Physical Training School. 2020-08-06. alt.army.lk.
8. Web site: Commando Regiment. 2020-08-09. alt.army.lk.
9. Web site: Commando Regiment. 2020-08-09. alt.army.lk.
10. Web site: Training Sri Lanka Army. 2020-08-09. www.army.lk.