1500 cadets, 60 platoons at NCC passing out at Rantambe

Hermann Loos/de Soyza Trophy Camp

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) passing out Parade of the Hermann Loos/de Soyza Trophy Camp was held at the NCC Training Centre at Rantembe yesterday morning (19) under the patronage of State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena.

Around 1500 Cadets representing 60 platoons, out of 2000 islandwide school-level Cadet platoons participated in the final event. In addition, a representative group of foreign participants, including 60 Cadets and 15 Officers from India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan who are currently on a visit to the island were also present during the event at Rantembe.

Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyarathne Adm. R.C Wijegunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff and Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army graced the ceremonial parade as special invitees.

NCC Director Maj. Gen. A.K.P Wickramasinghe (Rtd) presented a memento to the State Minister of Defence and the Defence Ministry Secretary as a token of appreciation of their visit. Cadets of De Mazenod College (DMC), Kandana won the first place in the boys’ category and received the Hermann Loos Trophy for the Best Platoon in the island for the year 2017, while Nalanda College, Colombo and Ibbagamuwa Central College, Kurunegala won the trophies for the second and third places respectively.

Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala won the De Soyza trophy for the Best Platoon in the girls’ category, while Gothami Balika Vidyalaya and Devi Balika Vidyalaya - both from Colombo secured the second and the third places respectively.