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.
The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya is awarded to senior officers of the Military of Sri Lanka in recognition of:
...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...
The Karyakshama Seva Vibhushanaya is a service medal awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka to commissioned officers of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, in recognition of "...long, meritorious, loyal and valuable service of proven capacity". Established on 7 January 1986, it does not confer any individual precedence.
Admiral Wannakuwatta Waduge Erwin Clancy Fernando VSV, USP, MSc, ndc, psc, MNI, SLN was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy from 1 November 1991 to 16 November 1992. He was assassinated by the LTTE in 1992, as the most senior officer in the Sri Lankan military to be killed in the line of duty.
The current decorations and medals of the Sri Lanka Police were adapted from those of the Dominion of Ceylon in 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic.
Air Chief Marshal G Donald Perera VSV, USP is a Sri Lanka air officer who served as commander of the Air Force from 2002 to 2006 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006 to 2009. He served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel.
Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, RWP, VSV, USP is a Sri Lanka air officer who served as commander of the Air Force from 1999 to 2002. He served as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan.
The Prashansaniya Seva Vibhushanaya is a military decoration awarded to officers of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force in recognition of excellent service, inaugurated on 31 January 2000. The medal does not confer any individual precedence, and is equivalent to the Reserve Decoration of the Royal Navy.
General Deshamanya Joseph Everard Denis Perera, VSV, FCMI was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1977 to 1981. He was also the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ceylon Tobacco Company and Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He envisioned for a women's corps in the army which resulted in the creation of the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps in 1979.
General Tissa Indraka Weeratunga, VSV was a Sri Lanka general. He was a former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army and first General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH), he was later Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canada.
Admiral Deshamanya D. Basil Gunasekara, ndc, psc, SLN was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy from 1973 to 1979.
General Ganegoda Appuhamelage Don Granville Nalin Seneviratne, VSV, ndc, SLE was a Sri Lankan Army officer. He was the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1985 to 1988 and first Governor of the North East Province.
Major General C.H. Fernando, VSV, psc, SLAC is a Sri Lankan general, who was the former Director of Operations, General Staff; GOC, 2 Division; Commander, Northern Command.
Brigadier Dennis Hapugalle, VSV, psc, SLAC (1930–2000) was a Sri Lankan military officer, former Chief of Civil Defence and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Security.
Brigadier M. H. Gunaratne, VSV, psc, SLAC was a Sri Lankan military officer, former Commander Security Forces Headquarters - East, Commander, Task Force I and Task Force III and Commandant, Army Training Centre
The Ceylon Police Medal was awarded to police officers of the Ceylon Police Force for gallantry or meritorious service. The medal was replaced by the Sri Lanka Police Weeratha Padakkama for gallantry and Sri Lanka Police Vishishta Seva Padakkama for meritorious service when Ceylon became a Republic in 1972.
Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, psc, SLAF was the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force and current Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
Major General E. George Thevanayagam, VSV was a Sri Lankan military leader, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Commandant of the Volunteer Force, and later first Director of the National Cadet Corps.
Vice Admiral Hikkaduwage Ananda Silva, VSV was a senior Sri Lankan naval officer. Who was the 11th Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy.
Air Commodore Buddhi Siriwardene VSV was an Air officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
