Forty five (45) nursing students capped in ceremony at SLNS Parakrama

In a momentous and dignified ceremony, the 2023 intake of the Naval Nurses’ Training School, SLNS Thakshila, celebrated their Capping Ceremony at the Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake Auditorium, SLNS Parakrama, today (22nd May 2024). The occasion saw forty five (45) nursing students from the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force pledging allegiance to the service in a ceremony graced by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera as the Chief Guest. Director Nursing (Education), Ministry of Health and President Sri Lanka Nursing Council, Mr WA Keerthirathna attended the event as Guest of Honour. Naval Nurses’ Training School in Welisara is an institute accredited to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).

During the prestigious ceremony, which marked a significant milestone in the careers of 07 Army, 35 Navy and 03 Air Force nursing students, customary proceedings were carried out by Director Nursing (Education), Ministry of Health and President Sri Lanka Nursing Council, Mr WA Keerthirathna, Director (Nursing Medical Services), Ms. MBC Samanmalee, senior lecturers in the faculties of Allied Health Sciences of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya and Kotelawala Defence University, Heads of the Colleges of Nursing – Kandana, Colombo and Kalutara, senior nursing tutors and Special Grade Chief Nursing Officers.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Nishantha Peiris, Director General Operations, and Surgeon Rear Admiral Janaka Marambe, Director General Health Services, awarded Medals of Excellence to nursing students who achieved the highest marks in various subjects during the first half-yearly examination.

A group of senior officers from the Navy Headquarters and Western Naval Command, flag-ranking officers, and officials from the Ministry of Health were also present on this occasion.