Coinciding with the 75th Independence Day celebrations, the prestigious Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) decoration was bestowed to 77 serving and recently retired senior military personalities of the Tri-Services in the President’s Residence, Kandy today (01 February 2023).
His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces awarded this prestigious decoration as a recognition of their outstanding and unblemished service to their respective forces. The medal is also considered the highest military decoration and a tribute that can be achieved during the course of an officer’s career.
During the ceremony, 53 Sri Lanka Army officers, 17 Sri Lanka Navy Officers and 07 Sri Lanka Air Force Officers received the VSV decoration from HE the President and Commander-in-Chief.
Marking yet another remarkable milestone in the history of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, the ‘75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal’ was also introduced to the Sri Lankan Tri-Forces. Symbolising the bestowal of the new medal, the Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, and a cross section of the tri services that is comprised of both officers and other ranks were ceremonially awarded the medal by the HE the president Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Dignified ceremony was also attended by Hon Sagala Ratnayaka, National Security Advisor to the President, Hon Premitha Bandara Tennakoon MP State Minister of Defence, Mr Saman Ekanayake Secretary to the President, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil Secretary of Ministry of Defence, General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil Chief of Defence Staff, Tri-Service Commanders, senior officers and number of distinguished invitees.
