The Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) was established in 1910 by the Ceylonese legislation Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance, which reformed the Ceylon Volunteer Force (CVF) that existed previously as the military reserve in the British Crown colony of Ceylon. At the time of forming it was only a reserve force but soon developed into a regular force responsible for the defence of Ceylon. The CDF was under the command of the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon of the British Army in Ceylon if mobilised. However mobilisation could be carried out only under orders from the Governor.
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 Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV) is Sri Lanka's highest military decoration, awarded for acts of exceptional valour in wartime. Parama Weera Vibhushanaya translates as the ""Decoration of Supreme Heroism", and the award is granted for "individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of the most exceptional order in the face of the enemy". Corporal Gamini Kularatne, was the first recipient. As of January 2021, the medal has been awarded 31 times, of which all were posthumous and arose from actions in the Sri Lankan Civil War. Of the 31 awardees, 28 have been from the Sri Lanka Army, two have been from the Sri Lanka Navy and one has been from the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The Desha Putra Sammanaya is a military decoration awarded as a wound medal to servicepersons of the Military of Sri Lanka, equivalent to the United States Purple Heart. The Sri Lanka Police awards an equivalent, related award for its service personnel.
The Vadamarachchi Operation Medal was a campaign medal presented to all ranks of the regular and volunteer forces of the Military of Sri Lanka that served in the Vadamarachchi Operation, the last major campaign carried out by the Sri Lankan military as part of Eelam War I before the arrival of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. The award was also awarded to civilians that aided in the operation.
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.
The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) is the active-duty volunteer reserve force of the Sri Lanka Army. The SLAVF is separate from the Regular Force which consists of personal who are professional soldiers and its Regular Reserve, which comprises personal who have a mobilization obligation following their service in the regular army. The SLAVF consists of the volunteer force and the volunteer reserve; administration and recruitment of reserve personal is carried out by the Volunteer Force Headquarters in Shalawa, Kosgama which is headed by the Commandant of the Volunteer Force. It has a current strength of about 55,000 personnel. The SLAVF was known as the Ceylon Volunteer Force from 1949 to 1972 and the Sri Lanka Volunteer Force from 1972 to 1985.
The Karyakshama Seva Padakkama is a service medal awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka to all servicepersons of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force in recognition of "...long, meritorious, loyal and valuable service of proven capacity". Established on 7 January 1986, the medal does not confer any individual precedence.
The Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal is a service award presented to all ranks of the tri-forces of Sri Lanka. Service personnel are eligible for the award on the completion of 12 years' continuous service with perfect character and discipline.
The Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal was awarded to members of the regular and volunteer forces of the Military of Sri Lanka who were in service on 22 May 1972, subject to recommendation by the commanders of the respective service commanders. Members of the then Ceylon Cadet Corps were ineligible. The award commemorated service at the time the country adopted a republican constitution, ceasing to be a Commonwealth realm.
The Riviresa Campaign Services Medal was a campaign medal presented to all ranks of the regular and volunteer forces of the Military of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Police, as well as civilians that were involved in planning or assisting Operation Riviresa, one of the most notable successes of the Sri Lankan forces during Eelam War III.
The Purna Bhumi Padakkama was a service medal awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Police to all ranks of its forces in recognition of service in various districts that were regarded as theaters of the Sri Lankan Civil War between 22 July 1977 to 1 January 2010.
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka encompassing the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Sri Lanka Air Force; they are governed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The three services have around 346,700 active personnel; conscription has never been imposed in Sri Lanka.
General Shantha H.S. Kottegoda, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP is a retired senior Sri Lanka Army general. He was the seventeenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1 July 2004 – 5 December 2005. He had served as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil and Thailand. In April 2019, following the Easter Sunday bombings he was appointed as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
General Hamilton Wanasinghe, VSV was a Full General in the Sri Lanka Army. He served as the 11th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1988–1991), third General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) (1991–1993) and Defense Secretary.
General Lionel Piyananda Balagalle RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, VSP was a senior Sri Lankan army general. He served as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Chief of the Defence Staff.
The 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal was a military decoration awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka to servicepersons of all actively serving ranks in both the regular and volunteer forces in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence from the United Kingdom, on the 4 February 1998. A formal recommendation from service commanders was required for the award of the medal.
The Sewabhimani Padakkama is a service medal awarded to servicepersons of the Military of Sri Lanka, for services to the nation and its development following the conclusion of the Sri Lankan Civil War in May 2009.
The Sewa Padakkama is a service medal awarded to servicepersons of the Military of Sri Lanka, for services to the nation and its development following the conclusion of the Sri Lankan Civil War in May 2009.
The Sri Lanka Police 125th Anniversary Medal was awarded to police officers in Sri Lanka who were in service on 3 September 1991, when the Sri Lanka Police celebrated its 125th anniversary.
