Awards and decorations of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Kularatne_medals2009.jpeg/350px-Kularatne_medals2009.jpeg)
The Sri Lankan Armed Forces award medals and their associated ribbon bars in recognition of various levels of service, personal accomplishments and commemorative events while a regular- or volunteer serviceperson is a member of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceperson's career.
Gallantry decorations & medals
- Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Decoration of Supreme Heroism)
- Weerodara Vibhushanaya (Decoration of Heroism)
- Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya (Decoration of Heroic Gallantry)
- Rana Wickrama Padakkama (Combat Gallantry Medal)
- Rana Sura Padakkama (Combat Excellence Medal)
Meritorious awards & medals
- Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama (Medal of Honour for Supreme Sacrifice)
- Desha Putra Sammanaya (Son of the Nation Award)
Service decorations & medals
- Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (Distinguished Service Decoration)
- Uttama Seva Padakkama (Eminent Service Medal)
- Videsha Seva Padakkama (Foreign Service Medal)
- Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
- Purna Bhumi Padakkama
- North and East Operations Medal
- Karyakshama Seva Vibhushanaya (Efficient Service Decoration) (Army)
- Karyakshama Seva Padakkama (Efficient Service Medal) (Army)
- Prashansaniya Seva Vibhushanaya (Commendable Service Decoration) (Navy)
- Prashansaniya Seva Padakkama (Commendable Service Medal) (Navy)
Campaign medals
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/North_Eastern_Sri_Lanka_districts.png/300px-North_Eastern_Sri_Lanka_districts.png)
- Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
- Riviresa Campaign Services Medal
- Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal
- Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal
Coronation/Inauguration medals
- Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal - 1951
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal - 1953
- President's Inauguration Medal - 1978
Anniversary medals
- Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal - 1972
- Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal - 1974
- Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal - 1999
- Sri Lanka Navy 25th Anniversary Medal - 1975
- Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal - 2000
- Sri Lanka Air Force 25th Anniversary Medal - 1976
- Sri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal - 2001
- 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal - 1998
- Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal - 1981
United Nations Service Medals
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/U.S._Marines_and_United_Nations_peacekeepers_from_Sri_Lanka_provide_security_at_a_food_distribution_point_in_Carrefour%2C_Haiti_100216-N-HX866-013.jpg/220px-U.S._Marines_and_United_Nations_peacekeepers_from_Sri_Lanka_provide_security_at_a_food_distribution_point_in_Carrefour%2C_Haiti_100216-N-HX866-013.jpg)
The United Nations Medal for participation in UN peacekeeping operations:
United Nations Operation in the Congo (MONUC) - 1960[1]
United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea - October 1962 to April 1963[2]
United Nations India-Pakistan Observation Mission - 1965, 1966
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
United Nations Operation in Mozambique - 1992 to 1994
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization[3]
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti - since 2004[4]
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon - since 2010[5]
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) - since 2014[6]
United Nations Mission in South Sudan - since 2015[6]
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) - since December 2017[7][8]
United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti - since 2017[9]
United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA)[6]
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINUSRO)[6]
Former decorations & medals
Transition to independence (1949 - 1956)
From its formation in 1949, the Ceylon Armed Forces continued the use of British military decorations. This was discontinued in 1956 with a suspension of nominations for British honors; until Sri Lanka's republican constitution of 1972, the following awards were used:
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)
- Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal (1961 - 1972)
- Efficiency Decoration (Ceylon)
- Efficiency Medal (Ceylon)
Colonial (pre-1948)
The following are notable medals awarded by the Colonial government or agents of the Crown that are of historic interest:
- Capture of Ceylon Medal (1807)
- Ceylon Medal (1818)[10]
- Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal (1914-1919)
Order of precedence
The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:[11][12][13]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Sumangala_Dias_PACAF_1-_portrait.jpg/230px-Sumangala_Dias_PACAF_1-_portrait.jpg)
Notes
See also
References
- ^ "1960: Sri Lankan contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping". United Naitons Sri Lanka.
- ^ "West New Guinea- UNSF". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "UN Medals: UNTSO". un.org. United Nations. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "UN decorates 200 Sri Lankan peacekeepers - Haiti". Defence.lk. 8 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Army Contingent for UN Mission in Lebanon ready to leave". english.dailyceylon.com. Daily Ceylon. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "UN introduces new rules for SL peace keeping troops: Army awaits HRC clearance". dailymirror.lk. Daily Mirror. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Army Chief eyes bigger deployment in Mali". island.lk. The Island. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Sri Lanka Army Completes Its Commitment to UN Assignments in Mali". Sri Lanka Army. army.lk. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Troop and police contributors". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Narbeth, Colin (1971). Collecting Military Medals: A Beginner's Guide. Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press. p. 52. ISBN 0718890094. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Medals". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "Medal". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "Decorations & Medals". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 29 April 2018.