Medals

Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Supreme Heroism Decoration), is the highest Sri Lankan military decoration equivalent to the ‘British Victoria Cross’ (which was the highest decoration in the Ceylon Army till 1972), or ‘Medal of Honour’ of the United States. It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for Individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of the most exceptional order in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily whilst on active service and with no regard to the risk of his own life and security with the objective of safeguarding there by the lives of his comrades or facilitating the operational aim of his force and are recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘PWV’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for Individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of a non-military nature of the most exceptional order performed voluntarily with no regard to his own life and security with the objective of saving or safeguarding the life or lives of a person or personnel imperiled by death or for a meritorious act or a series of acts of a humane nature of an exceptional order displayed in saving life from drowning, fire and rescue operations in mines, floods and similar calamities under circumstances of grave bodily injury or great danger to the life of the rescuer and are recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award. Recipient of the decoration will be eligible to use the symbol ‘WV’ after his name.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for Individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of a military nature of a high order in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily whilst on active service without regard for his own security with the objective of safeguarding thereby the lives of his comrades or facilitating the operational aim of his force or for a meritorious act or a series of acts of a humane nature of a high order displayed in saving life from drowning, fire and rescue operations in mines, floods and similar calamities under circumstances of bodily injury or danger to the life of the rescuer as recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award. The recipient of the decoration will be eligible to use the symbol ‘WWV’ after his name.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Individual or associated acts of bravery in the face of the enemy and performed voluntarily and are recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘RWP’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for distinguished conduct in the face of the enemy and are recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘RSP’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to Senior Officers of the Regular Force of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for exceptional, distinguished and loyal service provided they count not less than twenty-five years of service and possess an unblemished record of moral and military conduct. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘VSV’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the period of service requisite to qualify for the Decoration shall be an aggregate of eighteen years of Efficient Commissioned Service on the Active List of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, provided that the period of service so rendered has not been previously rewarded by any other Decoration for Efficient Service in the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘KSV’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the medal shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular Force of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for valuable service and devotion to duty marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct provided they completed a period of not less than fifteen years reckonable service and possess an unblemished record of moral and military conduct as at the date of recommendation is made. Recipient of the medal will be entitled to use the symbol ‘USP’ after his/her name

It is ordained that the medal shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for active service outside the territorial limits of the Island provided such service is connected with active service in foreign military missions or campaigns in the defence of Sri Lanka or for services connected with military or peace keeping operations conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Organization.

The medal shall be awarded to all ranks of the Regular Force and of the Army, Navy and Air Force including Officers but excluding those in the ranks of the Sri Lanka Cadet Crops who were in service on the 22 May 1972 and who were recommended by the Commander of the Army, Navy or Air Force to receive the award.

The Medal shall be awarded to –

• All ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army including Officers of Sri Lanka Cadet Corps, and
• Civilians on the authorized establishment of the Army:

Provided that all those to whom the Medal is awarded shall have completed a minimum of 10 years of service at any time during the period 10 October 1973 to 9 October 1974, being the year of the 25th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Army.

The Medal shall be awarded to -
All Officers and Other Ranks of the Regular Force and Regular reserve of the Sri Lanka Army who possess a minimum of five years service from the date of commission or enlistment respectively.

• All Officers and Other Ranks of the Volunteer Force, Volunteer Reserve of the Sri Lanka Army and Officers of the National Cadet Corps who possess a minimum of five years reckonable active service from the date of commission or enlistment respectively.
• Permanent or casual civilian employees of the Sri Lanka Army who possess a minimum of five years of reckonable service.
• Officers of the National Cadet Corps who are seconded for service to the Regular Force and count a minimum of five years of such service.

Provided that all those to whom the Medal is awarded shall be in service at any time during the period 10 October 1998 to 10 October 1999 being the year of the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army.

The Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal and Clasp are awarded as a reward for long and efficient service to personnel of any rank in the Regular Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Who have completed 12 years of service shall be eligible for the award of the Medal and the clasp will be awarded to those who, having been awarded the medal, completed a total of 22 years of service. Service requisite to qualify for the medal shall be continuous service. Periods of desertion or absence without leave, and periods of detention or imprisonment will not be admissible as qualifying service.

Personnel of any rank in the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force who have been in service on 22 May 1972 or thereafter, and who have completed 12 years of service shall be eligible to the award of the medal. Clasp to be on the ribbon of the medal will be awarded to those who having being awarded the medal complete a total 8 years of service after the award of the medal. Periods of desertion or absence without leave, and periods of detention or imprisonment will not be admissible as qualifying service.

The Medal shall be awarded to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, including Officers, but excluding those in the ranks of the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps, who were in service on the 04 February 1978, and recommended by the Commander of the Army, Navy or Air Force to receive the award.

It is ordained that the medal shall be awarded to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force who are in active service as at the 4 February 1998 and are recommended by the respective Service Commanders.

It is ordained that the Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka who are wounded whilst on operation by enemy action and such injury is classified at least as ‘moderately severe’ by the medical authorities or are killed as a consequence of such injury of enemy action and are recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award.

It is ordained that the medal shall be granted to all Military personnel who have served for an accumulated period of 3 years in the below mentioned areas since 23rd July 1983 to 01 January 2010.

• Districts of Jafna, Vavunia, Kilinochchi, Mullative, Mannar, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara.
• Divisional Secretaries Divisions of Nochchiyagama, Nuwaragampalatha (Central) and Wilachchiya of Anuradhapura District.
• Divisional Secretaries Divisions of Kalpitiya, Wanathawilluwa and Karuwalagaswewa of Puttalam District.
• Divisional Secretaries Divisions of Dimbulagala ana Kankapura of Polonnaruwa District.

It is ordained that the decoration shall be awarded to the Minister of Defence, Deputy Minister of Defence, Secretary Defence, Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police, all Military Personnel on active service along with civilian doctors and their staff, Police personnel, civilians who were employed by the services and took part actively in the execution of the East Humanitarian Operation during the period of 28 July 2006 to 10 July 2007.

It is ordained that the decoration shall be awarded to the Minister of Defence, Deputy Minister of Defence, Secretary Defence, Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police and all Military Personnel on active service along with civilian doctors and their staff, Police personnel, civilians who were employed by the services and took part actively in the execution of the North Humanitarian Operation during the period of 26th February, 2007 to 18th May 2009.

It is ordained that the medal shall be granted to all ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka who have served in the district of Jaffna since 22 july 1977 and Districts of Vavunia, Kilinochci, Mulaitivu, Mannar, Baticalo, Trincomalee and Ampara since 16 September 1983 to 01 January 2010.

It is ordained that the medal shall be granted to all personnel of the Security Forces who were actually involved in the military operation in the Vadamarachchi area, all those logistic and admin personnel who were involved in supporting the troops in the forward area during the Vadamarachchi operation, whether they were stationed in Vadamarachchi or elsewhere. All Security Forces personnel deployed outside the Vadamarachchi operation areas in order to assist the Vadamaraccchci operation. All those personnel both military and civil who planned the Vadamarachchi operation and were present in the Jaffna Peninsula during the Vadamarachchi operation. All military and civil hospital personnel who provided medical support and care to the casualties during the Vadamarachchi operation.

It is ordained that the medal shall be awarded to the Deputy Minister of Defence, Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police, all military personnel in active service, along with civilian doctors and their staff, police personnel, civilians who were employed by the services and took part actively in the execution of the operation Rivirasa 1 during the period of 17 October 1995 to 6 December 1995. Clasp shall be awarded to the Deputy Minister of Defence, Service Commanders, IGP and military personnel who have taken part in combat, fire support, logistic, medical, planning, directions or any other allied activities during the operation Rivirasa in the Jaffna Peninsula and other areas as per the operation orders for not less than 25 days during specified period. In the case of combat casualties of the Army, Navy and the Air Force the time stipulation of 25 days is not applicable provided however that the person become a casualty within the specified period.

It is ordained that the period of service requisite to qualify for the Decoration shall be an aggregate of eighteen years of Efficient Commissioned Service on the Active List of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, provided that the period of service so rendered has not been previously rewarded by any other Decoration for Efficient Service in the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. Recipient of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘KSV’ after his/her name.

It is ordained that the Medal shall be awarded to Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Men of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force who have completed an aggregate of eighteen years Efficient Service on the active list of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, provided that the period of service so rendered has not been previously rewarded by any other Medal for Efficient Service in the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

It is ordained that the medal shall be awarded to the following categories of persons: -
Army - All ranks of the Regular Force, all ranks on the active reorganized strength of all Ceylon Volunteer Force Units, including Officers but excluding those in the ranks of the Ceylon Cadet Corps; mobilized personnel of the Ceylon Volunteer Force in service with the United Kingdom troops in Ceylon and British Army seconded personnel, for service at any time during the period 10 October 1949 to 09 October 1950.

The Medal shall be awarded to all ranks of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force including Officers but excluding the ranks of the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps who were in service on the 01 April 1981 and who have completed 10 years of service in the active list by that date and are recommended by the Army. The Medal shall also be awarded to Regular Force personnel of the permanent staff of the Volunteer Force who held such appointments on the 01 April 1981 and have been in the permanent staff of the Volunteer Force for a minimum period of one year prior to that date and had completed a total of ten years service in the Regular Force.

UN Medal was established in Congo on 2 May 2000. It has three colors: UN blue on the outer band, yellow on the inner bands and dark blue in the middle. The UN blue represents the UN presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, yellow represents the dawn of peace and prosperity, and the dark blue represents the Congo River. Obverse: The United Nations global projection emblem, above which are the letters “UN”. Reverse: Plain, with the legend “IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE”.