The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) categorically denies the false and baseless allegations published in a National Daily on 11 November (2025),
claiming that a decision has been made to abolish the 50% concession granted to the children of service personnel. The KDU firmly states that no such decision has been taken, and the report is completely false, unfounded, and misleading to the public.
In 2011, the Board of Management of KDU approved the allocation of a Ranaviru Quota for the children of war heroes to pursue degree programmes conducted by the university, excluding the MBBS programme and Air Craft Maintenance Under this decision, 20% of seats from the Ranaviru families those who fulfill the criteria stipulated were granted with a 50% concession on the total course fee. This facility was introduced in recognition of the honourable and selfless service rendered by the nation’s war heroes and their families.
Since its inception, this welfare scheme has been continuously implemented without interruption. The quota is applicable not only to the children of serving and retired members of the Armed Forces with a minimum of 20 years of unblemished service but also to the children of personnel who were killed or permanently disabled in action, provided their service record remained unblemished up to that time.
Further, approvals were granted by the Board of Management in subsequent years to expand the welfare scheme as follows:
a.2013: Extension of the facility to the children of KDU civilian staff, allocating up to 5%of seats with a 40% concession on course fees.
b.2015: Provision of a 40% concession for the children of officers of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
b. 2016: Extension of the 40% concession to the children of Sri Lanka Police and Special Task Force (STF) personnel under the Ranaviru Quota.
The university reiterates that no decision has been made to abolish, amend, or suspend the Ranaviru Quota or the associated concessions. Any such decisions, if ever considered, can only be made by the Board of Management of KDU, not by the university administration. However, University is confirmed that the all Ranaviru families will not get the concession and only 20% of the entire Ranaviru Family population will be entitle to receive such concession.
KDU strongly emphasizes that the welfare facilities provided for the children of those who served the nation with honour and sacrifice will continue to be maintained as they have been in the past, without any change or reduction under any circumstances.
