Mumtaz Mahal to become National Defence College

The government will convert the former official residence of the Speaker of Parliament ‘Mumtaz Mahal’ to a National Defence College (NDC) at a cost of Rs.1.5 billion to train military and civilian officials in strategic level aspects of security and save public funds that are spent on sending military officers for training in National Defence Colleges overseas.

Cabinet approval was granted last week to a memo presented by President Maithripala Sirisena for the purpose.

It was observed that the establishment of an NDC in Sri Lanka would bring forth many opportunities for the country. It would also bring local and foreign scholars as well as defence officials together on a single knowledge- sharing platform. It would also enable an increased number of military and civilian officials to be trained’ in strategic level aspects of security and save public funds that are spent on sending military officers to National Defence Colleges overseas. “The NDC is best located in Colombo, within easy reach to other academic institutions, resource personnel and government institutions,” Persident Sirisena said in his Cabinet paper.

The National Security Council (NSC) had already given approval to establish an NDC and to utilise the Mumtaz Mahal for this purpose.

Accordingly the ownership of Mumtaz Mahal would be transferred to the Ministry of Defence in order to house the NDC after renovation at a cost of Rs 1.5

At present, Officers of the security forces are sent for NDC courses offered mainly by China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Billion from the budgetary allocations for 2017.

The remaining sum of Rs. 3 Billion from the budgetary allocation for 2018 for the renovation of Mumtaz Mahal, and establishment of the NDC to commence functioning of the NDC once the renovation was complete with a tentative target date in the year 2018.

“Sri Lanka is positioned geographically in an important strategic location in the Indian Ocean. This along with the change of dynamics in the global perception of the country in the recent past has made her an ideal hub for activities that bring the East and the West together. Sri Lanka is still held in high esteem by defence and security sectors over the world for her strategic approach to eradicate terrorism and bring about national reconciliation. Sri Lanka has elevated itself even higher in the opinion of global giants in security, as the neutral platform in the region where many new ventures can be initiated,” President Sirisena stressed.

“At present, Officers of the security forces are sent for NDC courses offered mainly by China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Since the number of offers made annually is approximately 19, it is not possible to get all the eligible officers trained in an NDC. The ministry expects to impart this higher security training to as many officers as possible in the forces,’ it is said.