The Staff Development Centre, University of Vavuniya, conducted a workshop titled “Best Practices of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU)” on March 19, 2025 from 01:30 PM to 03:00 PM at the Smart Lecture Hall, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Vavuniya. Dr. K. Arjunan, former Director of the Staff Development Centre, served as the resource personfor the session. The primary objective of the workshop was to share best practices and insights from KDU’s Outgoing Training Programmes with academic and administrative staff. Dr. K. Arjunan introduced the concept of Outgoing Training and provided an overview of the activities that took place during the Outgoing Training scheduled from May 3 to May 5, 2024. A selected group of 29 staff participated and gained experience of KDU’s best practices. Key aspects of the training included time management, engagement, and responsibility, highlighting the importance of initiative in both personal and professional settings. Dr. K. Arjunan also explained their best practices for communicating through letters, emphasizing effective letter writing with clarity and professionalism. In addition, Dr. K. Arjunan discussed the second day’s activities, which included a beach walk and hike designed to promote physical fitness, team bonding, and personal reflection. Other activities included sessions on grooming and social etiquette to ensure proper professional appearance and behavior, as well as team-building activities to strengthen teamwork and interpersonal skills. The guest dinner provided an opportunity for formal networking and social interaction.
He introduced their work on pneumatic pipeline systems for delivering drugs, documents, and specimens to and from laboratories to nursing areas. Effective communication was an important focus, with strategies aimed at improving formal and informal communication skills. On the third day, participants visited Mattala Airport, Hambantota Port, and the Bird Park in Hambantota. The workshop concluded with participants reflecting on how to apply these best practices in them professional lives, thereby enhancing their personal and professional development.
