The inauguration ceremony of the Aircraft Maintenance degree programme which was planned under the collaboration of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Aeronautical Engineering Department and the SriLankan Airlines SriLankan Aviation College (SLAC), was held on March 5 at the SriLankan Aviation College Auditorium, with the participation of students, parents, KDU representatives and SLAC officials.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the said collaborative training programme, was signed between the two parties at the KDU on January 4. General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe and SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Captain Suren Ratwatte signed the agreement.
Engineering Faculty Dean Dr. W. C. D. K. Fernando, Management, Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Dean Dr. R. M. N. T. Sirisoma and Aeronautical Engineering Department Head Wing Commander C. J. Hettiarachchi attended the function representing the KDU and SriLankan Aviation College General Manager Primal De Silva, SLAC Technical Training Manager Samitha Ranasinghe and other SLAC officials participated in the event on behalf of SriLankan Airlines.
The first batch of students for the newly-introduced, four-year, full-time degree programme, were enrolled into the KDU and they would undergo the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-approved Basic Course in Aircraft Maintenance (category B1.1 or B2) at Sri Lankan Technical Training (STT), which is the aircraft maintenance training arm of the SLAC, during the first two years.
Upon successful completion of the initial programme, undergraduates would continue the programme for another one and half years at the KDU before finally proceeding to the SLAC, to attend a six-month Internship/On the Job Training (OJT) programme in order to complete the degree.
The students of the first batch are expected to complete the course by 2021. Furthermore, the KDU is expected to commence a top-up degree programme for students who complete their EASA course at the Sri Lankan Aviation College, from next year onward.