Awards and decorations of the military of Sri Lanka

Awards and decorations of the Sri Lankan Military are military orders, decorations and medals which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.

Gallantry decorations & medals

 * Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Supreme Heroic Decoration)
 * Weerodara Vibhushanaya (Heroism Decoration)
 * Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya (Heroic Gallantry Decoration)
 * Rana Wickrama Padakkama (Combat Gallantry Medal)
 * Rana Sura Padakkama (Combat Excellence Medal)

Meritorious awards & medals

 * Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama (Meritorious Sacrifice Recognition Medal)
 * Desha Putra Sammanaya (Nation's son Award)

Service decorations & medals

 * Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (Distinguished Service Decoration)
 * Uttama Seva Padakkama (Meritorious Service Medal)
 * Videsha Seva Padakkama (Foreign Service Medal)
 * Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
 * Karyakshama Seva Vibhushanaya (Efficient Service Decoration)
 * Karyakshama Seva Padakkama (Efficient Service Medal)
 * Prashansaniya Seva Vibhushanaya (Praiseworthy Service Decoration)
 * Prashansaniya Seva Padakkama (Praiseworthy Service Medal)

Campaign medals

 * North and East Operations Medal
 * Purna Bhumi Padakkama
 * 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

United Nations' Service Medal
The United Nations Medal for participation in UN peace keeping operations
 * in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, in 1958
 * in the United Nations Operation in the Congo, in 1960.
 * in the United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea, from October 1962 to April 1963
 * in the United Nations India-Pakistan Observation Mission, in 1965, 1966
 * in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
 * in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique, from 1992 to 1994
 * in the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
 * in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, since 2004.

Former decorations & medals
From its formation in 1949 the Ceylon Armed Forces used British military decoration. However with a suspension of nominations for British honors in 1956, use of British decorations ceased in the Ceylon Armed Forces. Until Ceylon became a republic and a new form of military decorations were introduced in 1981 the following 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)

Order of wear
The medals are to be won in the following order;


 * Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
 * Weerodara Vibhushanaya
 * Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya
 * Rana Wickrama Padakkama
 * Rana Sura Padakkama
 * Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
 * Uttama Seva Padakkama
 * Videsha Seva Padakkama
 * 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 50th Anniversary Medal-2000
 * Sri Lanka Navy 25th Anniversary Medal-1975
 * Sri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal-2001
 * Sri Lanka Air Force 25th Anniversary Medal-1976
 * Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal-1953
 * Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
 * Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
 * President's Inauguration Medal-1978
 * 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal-1998
 * Desha Putra Sammanaya
 * North and East Operations Medal
 * Purna Bhumi Padakkama
 * Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
 * Riviresa Campaign Services Medal
 * Karyakshama Seva Vibhushanaya
 * Kariyakshama Seva Padakkama
 * Prashansaniya Seva Vibhushanaya
 * Prashansaniya Seva Padakkama
 * Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
 * Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal
 * Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal
 * Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal
 * United Nations' Service Medal