296 AND COUNTING: IMA CONTINUES SHAPING SRI LANKA'S MILITARY LEADERS

With nearly 300 Sri Lankan officers commissioned from IMA alone, the academy remains a powerful symbol of India's soft power in military diplomacy.

- CORRESPONDENT

In a testament to India's enduring military diplomacy, two Sri Lankan officer cadets, including RMNL Rathnayake, son of senior Sri Lankan military officer Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake, were among the newly commissioned officers who passed out from the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, on Saturday.

Their commissioning brings the total number of Sri Lankan Army officers trained and groomed at this premier pre-commission training institution to 296, highlighting India's sustained role in shaping military leadership in friendly neighbouring nations.

The Passing Out Parade (POP) at IMA, known globally for its disciplined tradition and military excellence, gained additional significance with Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and a distinguished alumnus of IMA himself, presiding over the ceremony as the Reviewing Officer.

Lt Gen Rodrigo's presence at the Parade embodied the deep personal connections fostered by the IMA, as well as the broader institutional ties between India and Sri Lanka.