HISTORY

In 1881 Mr. John B Cull, Principal of Royal College formed a Volunteer Corps with the intention of promoting discipline by doing drill. Mr. Cull’s effort became fruitful when expansion occurred with the introduction of a Cadet Battalion in 1902 recruited from schools and attached to the CLI (Ceylon Light Infantry). At the time the Acting Commandant of the Volunteer Force was Major HG Morns, of the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. Mr. SM Burrows was the Director of Public Instruction, as the post of Director of Education was known then.

Companies were formed at Royal, St. Thomas, Wesley, Kingswood, Trinity and Richmond Colleges. These were commanded by honorary officers from among teachers and senior students. Cadet Battalion of CLI was reorganized with effect from 1st September 1910.

• School Cadets between 12 and 16 formed companies commanded by teachers.

• Cadets on reaching 16 years were eligible for transfer to Cadet Companies called Cadet Companies CLI. They were commanded by officers seconded from CLI.

Further expansion took place in1918. Brigadier General RB Fell, Commandant CVF recommended the disbanding of the Cadet Companies and the formation of the Cadet Battalion with two divisions , Seniors and Juniors. Diyatalawa was  set up in1904 after Boer War. Cadets attended camp together with CPRC, ( Ceylon Planters’ Rife Corps ), CLI, British, and Indian Regiments. In 1948 the Commanding Officer of the Ceylon Cadet Battalion (CCB) was appointed the Ceylonese Commandant of the Ceylon Defence Force. CCB became the Ceylon Cadet Corps (CCC) in 1950. In the same year 2nd Battalion was formed with Headquarters in Kandy and 1st Battalion Headquarters shifted to Kalutara. Thus with its progress in 1953 the 3rd Battalion was formed.

Some of the other significant events in its golden history are,

• In 1962 CCC Officers were called upon to perform duties in Colombo Harbour with other units of the CVF and Regulars.

• The 4th , 5th   and 6th Battalions were established in 1964 , 1968 and 1970 respectively.

• 108 Officers were mobilized for duties with the Regular Force in  various parts of the country in 1971.

• The Sri Lanka Police Cadet Corps was raised in July 1972 as a project sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence. The Corps functioned as an integral part of the Police Reserve. The Commandant and Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Police Reserve held the appointments of Commandant ant Dy. Commandant of the Police Cadet Corps. The Officers in charge of training and the permanent staff of the Corps were under a Reserve Superintendent of Police, who was responsible to the Dy. Commandant and Commandant. Membership as cadets was open to school going boys and girls , who were below d18 years of age. Officers were selected from those in the Teaching Profession in Government Schools.

• In the same year Corps changed its designation as Sri Lanka Cadet Corps, after Ceylon declared itself a Republic in 1972.

• In pursuance of proposal made in1981 by Hon. Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Employment to broad base the Cadet Corps on a National basis under a central authority ; and consequential action taken there after, Act No. 40 of 1985 brought about the amalgamation of the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps and the Police Cadet Corps under the Ministry of Manpower Mobilization.

• The NCC was ceremonially inaugurated on 29th April 1988, His Excellency J.R. Jayawardana then President of Sri Lanka became the Chief guest of the Ceremony.

• Further expansion took place by forming 7th ,8th and 9th Battalions 1989,1990 and 1991respectively.

• In 1990 the Rantambe Complex which had been the official quarters of the Sri Lanka and German staff of the Randenigala Dam Project was taken over by the NCC. This premises which is situated close to Rantambe reservoir has now  been converted to a well established Training Centre where training of Officers and Cadets of the NCC take place through out the year.

• 10th Battalion was formed in 1992 whilst 11th , 12th Battalions  in 1994 and 13th Battalion were established in the year 2000.

With Major General GBW Jayasundara RWP RSP assuming duties as the Director, the NCC was geared into a new dimension where exposure was given to many teachers to join the organization and become well motivated officers of the Corps. Simultaneously, many students specially from rural areas were trained as cadets ; for them becoming a cadet had been only a dream due to infrastructure needed to establish a cadet contingency. Concurrent establishment of the Seva Vanitha Branch of the NCC became a pillar to cater such barriers under the patronage of Mrs. Priyanthi Jayasundara the first President of NCC Seva Vanitha Branch.

New scheme of scholarships was introduced in order to facilitate and motivate cadets to be Junior Leaders.  Visits to SAARC Countries as distinguished guests to national events of the respective countries was expanded and by now Sri Lankan cadets visit to almost all the SAARC Countries to witness the most important national event of the country.

During this golden era of the NCC language courses such as English, Tamil and Sinhala Languages, for cadets, Officers and ORs of the Armed Forces and the Police were introduced on the instructions of the Secretary Ministry of Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and under the guidance of Director NCC Major General GBW Jayasundara RWP RSP with a view of enhancing language competencies of the target group; in addition Computer Literacy Course and Counseling Course were introduced to the same target group.

The curriculum of the cadet training was revised and new subjects were added in order to create a new vista for cadets. The curriculum of the NCC on its long way of 128 years had various changes and now it comprises of thirteen (13) subjects.

Some of other signifcant events added to the institution’s history are ;

• Establishment of 15th Battalion at Monaragala in 2007

• 16th Battalion of the NCC was formed in the year 2008 at Matara.

• Establishment of 17th & 18th Battalions in 2009 has been written in the history of the NCC making further expansion of the organization.

• 19th Battalion was opened in the year 2010 in Pannipitiya.

• Introduction of Refresher Course for UN Mission Selection Test for Officers and the ORs of the Police on the instructions of Secretary, Ministry of Defence has gone into the history since the course has achieved commended results from the UN Mission Selection Test proper.

• Establishment of 20th Battalion has taken place in June 2011 in Jaffna Peninsula.

• Youth Corps Complex that had been used for youth training for the past few years was taken by the NCC. The property consists of an auditorium, trainees’ billets, officers’ quarters (Lanka Mess) and training area. This premises is presently being used specially for academic courses conducted concurrent with cadet training.

• Stationary Officers’ Mess was renovated in order to provide accommodation facilities to officers who work at Headquarters and who come from Battalion Headquarters for official matters. Second floor of the building was converted to a lecture hall, where workshops for NCC Officers are being conducted. Lecture Hall in Colombo had been a long felt requirement for the NCC.