National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The National Cadet Corps is a youth organisation in Sri Lanka, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, which operates in schools, and normally includes Army, Navy and Air Force sections. The corp is open for secondary school students on voluntary basis and its officers are government teachers and educational administrators, who serve as instructors. The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades, as well as leadership training.
Currently administrated under the Mobilization and Supplementary Forces Act, No. 40 of 1985, it was establish in 1881 and was formally known as the Ceylon Cadet Corps. The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service. Officers many volunteer for secondment to the Sri Lanka Armed forces during national emergencies or be mobilized under National Service. Traditionally the Cadet Corps has served as a source for officers for the regular forces of the Sri Lankan military. The NCC is headed by a Director of Major General rank.
Mission
The Mission of the National Cadet Corps is to train and inspire cadets using effective training curriculum, so that each cadet shall develop character, courage, sportsmanship, self-reliance, discipline, and civil mindedness, spirit of adventure, responsibility and comradeship to be a human resource of well-trained youth, capable of providing leadership in all aspects of life.History
- 1881 – Mr. John B. Cull, the then principal of Royal College, Colombo formed a cadet platoon as a Volunteer Unit under Ceylon Light Infantry for the students of the Royal College.
- 1902 – Introduction of Cadet Battalion under CLI and Major S. M. Baros of CLI became the first Commanding Officer of the Cadet Battalion.
- 1917 – The First Hermen Loos Camp was held in Diyathalawa. The Champions were Kingswood College, Kandy
- 1918 – With the recommendation of Brigadier General R. B. Fell, formation of Ceylon Cadet Battalion took place on the two divisions on 4 February 1918.
- 1948 – Colonel R.J.F. Mendis was appointed as the first Sri Lankan commanding officer of the Ceylon Cadet Battalion.
- 1971 – Eight officers were mobilised for duties with the Regular Force during the period of JVP insurrection in various parts of the island.
- 1972 – Ceylon Cadet Corps changed its designation as Sri Lanka Cadet Corps after Ceylon declared itself a Republic.
- 1981 – Centenary Celebrations of Cadet Corps was held in Colombo.
- 1985 – Action was taken to amalgamate Sri Lanka Cadet Corps and the Police Cadet Corps under the Manpower Mobilization and Auxiliary Forces Act, No. 40 of 1985.
- 1985 – Girls Platoons were started in ten main cities of the island.
- 1988 – Sri Lanka Cadet Corps, which was part of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force changed its designation as the National Cadet Corps, and it was ceremonially inaugurated on 29 April 1988 by His Excellency J. R. Jayewardene, the then President of Sri Lanka under the above Act.
- 1990 – The National Cadet Corps Training Centre, Rantembe was established on 2 December 1990 by General Cyril Ranathunga, VSV the Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
- 1995 – A total 98 officers including 25 lady officers were mobilised to serve in the operational areas. Some of them were posted to Army HQ, SLMA, KDA and Sri Lanka Navy for various duties.
- 2001 – The Ministry of Defence took over Sri Gunalankara Vidyalaya from the Ministry of Education and established the HQ National Cadet Corps at Kalubowila on 18 May 2001.
- 2006 – 125th Anniversary celebrations.
Organization
Headquarters
Headquarters National Cadet Corps – Colombo- General Staff Branch
- Corps' Secretary Branch
- Admin Quartering Branch
- Procurement Branch
- Finance Branch
- Headquarters Battalion
Battalions
- 1st NCC Battalion – Galle
- 2nd NCC Battalion – Kandy
- 3rd NCC Battalion – Colombo
- 4th NCC Battalion – Kurunagala
- 5th NCC Battalion – Anuradhapura
- 6th NCC Battalion – Badulla
- 7th NCC Battalion – Gampaha
- 8th NCC Battalion – Rathnapura
- 9th NCC Battalion – Kegalla
- 10th NCC Battalion – Tangalla
- 11th NCC Battalion – Polonnaruwa
- 12th NCC Battalion – Kalutara
- 13th NCC Battalion – Matale
- 14th NCC Battalion – Kuliyapitiya
- 15th NCC Battalion – Monaragala
- 16th NCC Battalion – Matara
- 17th NCC Battalion – Ampara
- 18th NCC Battalion – Nuwara Eliya
- 19th NCC Battalion – Pannipitiya
- 20th NCC Battalion – Jaffna
- 21st NCC Battalion – Trincomalee
- 22nd NCC Battalion – vavuniya
- 23rd NCC Battalion – Kundasale
- 24th NCC Battalion – Debarawewa
- 25th NCC Girl Battalion – North Western Province
- 26th NCC Girl Battalion – Western Province
- 27th NCC Girl Battalion – Southern Province
- 28th NCC Girl Battalion – Central Province
- 29th NCC Girl Battalion – Sabaragamuwa Province
- 30th NCC Girl Battalion – Northern Province
- 31st NCC Girl Battalion – Eastern Province
- 32nd NCC Girl Battalion – North Central Province
- 33rd NCC Girl Battalion – Uwa Province
- 34th NCC Battalion – Mulathivu
- 35th NCC Battalion – Puttlam
- 36th NCC Battalion – Kilinochchi
- 37th NCC Battalion – Mannar
- 38th NCC Battalion – Batticoloa
- NCC Training Centre, Rantambe
Training
Trophies
- Hermann Loos Championship Trophy – awarded annually to the best performing cadet platoon from a boys' school
- De Soysa Champion – awarded annually to the best performing cadet platoon from a girls' school
- Lt General T I Weeratunga Challenge Sheeld - awarded annually to the best performing Western Cadet Band from a boys school
- Best Eastern Band Championship Trophy
- Junior Cadet Championship Trophy
Training Course
- Junior Leadership Course for Cadets & Sramabimani
- Cadets' Advance Course
- Probationary Officers' Course
- Young Officers' Course
- Officers' Training Course
- Junior Command Course
- Senior Command Course
- Band Platoons Commanders' Course
- Band NCOs, Course for Cadets
- Computer Course for Cadets
- Computer Course for ORs
- Computer Course for Three Forces and Police Officers
- English Language course for Cadets
- English Language Course for ORs
- English Language Course for Tri-Forces and Police Officers
- Sinhala Language Course for Cadets
- Sinhala Language Course for ORs
- Tamil Language Course for Cadets
- Tamil Language Course for ORS
- Tamil Language Course for Tri-Forces and Police Officers
- Drivers' Course
- Counselling Course
- University Entrance Course
- PSI Course
- Clerks Course
Ranks within the NCC
- Major General
- Brigadier
- Colonel
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Major
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- 2nd Lieutenant
- Probationary officer
- Warrant Officer I
- Warrant Officer II
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Cadet
- Regiment Sergeant Major
- Regiment Quarter Master Sergeant
- Company Sergeant Major
- Company Quarter Master Sergeant
- Corps Regimental Sergeant Major – Senior Warrant Officer 1
- Battalion Regimental Sergeant Major – Warrant Officer 1
- Battalion Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant – Senior Warrant Officer 2
- Company Sergeant Major – Warrant Officer 2
- Company Quarter Master Sergeant – Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Cadet
Past Directors
- Major SM Borrous 1902–1905
- Major James Von Langenberg ED CLI 1905–1915
- Major WE Gratiaen 1916–17
- Major Edvin Evans 1917–1920
- Col LMCD Robison ED 1920–1932
- Col S. A. Pakeman CBE, MC, ED 1932–1938
- Col Robert Patrick ED 1938–1943
- Col R.J.F. Mendis OBE ED 1943–1948
- Lt Col HVC De Silva ED 1948–1951
- Col R Sabanayagam OBE 1951–1955
- Bvt Col TN Munasinghe ED 1955–1960
- Lt Col HCF Abeykoon ED 1960–61
- Lt Col HSR Gunawardana 1961–1965
- Lt Col P. D. Ramayanayake 1965–1968
- Lt Col EA Perusinghe ED 1968–69
- Bvt Col GW Rajapaksha ED 1969–1973
- Bvt Col KPG Nilame ED 1973–1977
- Bvt Col RB Narampanawa ED 1977–1980
- Bvt Col NBS Balalle 1980–1984
- Lt Col HKDA Fernando 1984–1987
- Maj Gen E. G. Thevanayagam, VSV 1987–1991
- Col HW senevirathna 1991
- Brig Justus B Rodrigo, VSV 1991–1994
- Maj Gen T. N. De Silva, USP 1994–1999
- Col YL Kulasooriya 1999–2000
- Brig GSM Ranathunga, USP 2000–2002
- Col RM Somapala 2002
- Maj Gen WR Wijerathne, USP 2002–2004
- Brig DHMRB Thammita, RSP 2004–05
- Maj Gen GBW Jayasundara RWP RSP 2005–2013
- Maj Gen HMHA Herath MSc.psc 2013–2015
- Maj Gen LWCBB Rajaguru RWP,RSP,USP,Ldmc 2015–16
- Maj Gen AKP Wickramasinghe VSV USP 2016 to 2018.
- Maj Gen MMS Perera psc 2018 to 2019