![](Https://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.
Medals for gallantry
[edit]- Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Order of the Ultimate Brave)
- Weerodara Vibhushanaya (Order of Bravery)
- Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya (Conspicuous Gallantry Order)
- Rana Wickrama Padakkama (Combat Gallantry Medal)
- Rana Sura Padakkama (Combat Excellance Medal)
Sri Lanka orders
[edit]- Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (Distinguished Service Order)
- Karyakshama Seva Vibhushanaya (Efficient Service Order) (Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force)
- Prashansaniya Seva Vibhushanaya (Commendable Service Order) (Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force)
Wound medals
[edit]- Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama (Medal of Honour for Supreme Sacrifice)
- Desha Putra Sammanaya (Son of the Nation Award)
Medals for long service and good conduct
[edit]- Uttama Seva Padakkama (Meritorious Service Medal)
- Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
- Karyakshama Seva Padakkama (Efficient Service Medal) (Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force)
- Prashansaniya Seva Padakkama (Commendable Service Medal) (Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force)
- Videsha Seva Padakkama (Foreign Service Medal)
War service medals
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/North_Eastern_Sri_Lanka_districts.png/300px-North_Eastern_Sri_Lanka_districts.png)
- Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal
- Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal
- Purna Bhumi Padakkama
- North and East Operations Medal
- Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
- Riviresa Campaign Services Medal
Peacetime service medals
[edit]- Sewabhimani Padakkama (Meritorious Service Medal)
- Sewa Padakkama (Service medal)
Commemorative medals
[edit]- Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal - 1951
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal - 1953
- Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal - 1972
- Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal - 1974
- Sri Lanka Navy 25th Anniversary Medal - 1975
- Sri Lanka Air Force 25th Anniversary Medal - 1976
- President's Inauguration Medal - 1978
- Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal - 1981 (Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force)
- 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal - 1998
- Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal - 1999
- Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal - 2000
- Sri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal - 2001
- 75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal - 2023
United Nations Service Medals
[edit]![](Https://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 and medals
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/PM_visits_the_1st_Bn_CLI.jpg/300px-PM_visits_the_1st_Bn_CLI.jpg)
Dominion of Ceylon (1949 - 1972)
[edit]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 honours; until Sri Lanka's republican constitution of 1972, the following awards were used:
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (suspended in 1956)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (suspended in 1956)
- Efficiency Decoration (Ceylon) (1930 - 1972)
- Efficiency Medal (Ceylon) (1930 - 1972)
- Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1938-1950)
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1938-1950)
- Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces (1954-1966)
- Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal (1961 - 1972)
- General Service Medal (Malaya Clasp) (1949 to Ceylon Pioneers)[10]
Colonial (pre-1948)
[edit]Imperial and local medals awarded for military service to the colony and empire.
- Capture of Ceylon Medal (1807)
- Ceylon Medal (1818)[11]
- Volunteer Officers' Decoration (1892-1930)
- Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies (1892-1930)
- Queen's South Africa Medal (1989-1900 for service with the British Imperial Forces)
- King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
- King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
- British War Medal (1914-1918 for service with the British Army)
- Victory Medal (1914-1918 for service with the British Army)
- Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal (1914-1919)
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
- King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
- War Medal 1939–1945 (1939-1945)
- Defence Medal (1939-1945)
- Burma Star (1939-1945 for service with the British Army)
- Africa Star (1939-1945 for service with the Royal Army Service Corps)
- 1939-1945 Star (1939-1945 for service with the Royal Air Force)
- Air Crew Europe Star (1939-1945 for service with the Royal Air Force)
Order of precedence
[edit]The various decorations and medals are worn in the order stipulated for each service by its service commander.
Sri Lanka Army
[edit]The order in which decorations and medals are to be worn have been defined in the Dress Regulation of the Sri Lanka Army.[12][13]
![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/160727-N-GR718-083_%2828595582865%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/230px-160727-N-GR718-083_%2828595582865%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Sri Lanka Navy
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Travis_Sinniah%2C_Naval_War_College_Lecture.jpg/230px-Travis_Sinniah%2C_Naval_War_College_Lecture.jpg)
Sri Lanka Air Force
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Sumangala_Dias_PACAF_1-_portrait.jpg/230px-Sumangala_Dias_PACAF_1-_portrait.jpg)
See also
[edit]- Sri Lankan campaign medals
- Awards and decorations of the Sri Lanka Police
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Sri Lanka
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "1960: Sri Lankan contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping". United Nations 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "TERMS OF AWARD OF THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL AND THE GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL (ARMY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE)" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dress Regulation". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Medal". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Decorations & Medals". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 29 April 2018.