The award was in recognition of the strategic and iconic position, occupied by Major General Milinda Peiris in the fraternity of Vice Chancellors as an agent of change in global education. The Jury and the Council Board have recognized Major General Milinda Peiris as “a role model and a believer in change”.

The award ceremony preceded the World Vice Chancellors Congress on the theme “Internationalization of Higher Education in a 21st Century Global Environment: Drivers, Imperatives & Prerequisites”.

The World Chancellors & Vice Chancellors Congress is a part of the World Corporate Universities' Congress, and is governed by the Global Advisory Council which guides the strategic intent of the congress to its logical success.

This award is an indirect tribute to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, which has shown a phenomenal growth in the recent past under the leadership of Major General Milinda Peiris with its particular contribution to making Sri Lanka a “Knowledge Hub in Asia", as envisaged in ‘Mahinda Chinthana’, the vision of the President of Sri Lanka.(KH) (Courtesy: MoD)