National Cadet Corps

The final Passing out Parade of the All Island Eastern Band Challenge Trophy National Camp – 2026, organized by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Sri Lanka, was held with pride and dignity on 12 October 2026 at the National Cadet Corps Training Centre, Rantambe.

A total of 57 Eastern Band Cadet Platoons, representing 30 battalions from across the island, participated in the final parade.

Lt Col W.S.N. Withana, CO of the 7th Bn, as the Parade Commander, and Major P.S.K. Kalikotuwa, CO of the 4th Bn, as the Second-in-Command performed duties of the Parade.

In the All Island Girls’ Eastern Band competition, St. Anthony’s Girls’ College, Kandy, representing the 2nd Battalion, secured the overall championship by winning the Srimathi Sarojini Thevanayagam Challenge Trophy.

Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha, representing the 7th Battalion, secured the runner-up position.

The third, fourth and fifth places were secured by Sri Dheerananda Central College, Pilimathalawa (2nd Battalion), Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala (4th Battalion), and Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala (4th Battalion), respectively.

St. Anthony’s Girls’ College, Kandy, won the Musician Ananda Samarakoon Shield for Best Music, securing first place in the band performance assessment among the girls’ platoons.

In the All Island Boys’ Eastern Band competition, Dharmaraja College, Kandy, representing the 2nd Battalion, emerged as the overall champions by winning the Captain P.W. Jayathilaka Bandara Challenge Trophy. Vidyartha College, Kandy, also representing the 2nd Battalion, secured the runner-up position.

The third, fourth and fifth places were awarded to Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala (4th Battalion), Bandaranayake College, Gampaha (7th Battalion), and St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy (2nd Battalion), respectively.

Dharmaraja College, Kandy, also won the Musician W.B. Makuloluwa Shield for Best Music, securing first place in the band performance assessment among the boys’ platoons.

Mr. Kamal Ariyasinghe, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, attended the event as the Chief Guest. Mr. Kasun Gunaratne, Deputy Director of the Co-curricular Guidance and Counselling Branch of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, responsible for vocational training, also attended as a Special Guest.

Major General A.K.C.S. de Silva RSP ndc, Director  National Cadet Corps along with several senior officers, also attended the occasion.

The successful conclusion of the All Island Eastern Band Challenge Trophy – 2026 highlighted the dedication, teamwork, discipline and musical talents of the cadets from all the parts of the island.

The event once again reflected the National Cadet Corps’ commitment to developing disciplined, confident and responsible young citizens through cadet training.