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PROJECT ONE - Orders, Decorations and Medals relating to Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
from 1795 to the present.
A sample biography
General The Rt.Hon. Sir
John Lionel Kotelawala PC CH KBE KStJ LLD |
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Sir John Kotelawela |
He was the member for Kurunegala
and the Acting Minister of Agriculture and Lands in the First State Council
(1931-35), Minister of Communications and Works in the Second State Council
(1936-47), Minister of Transport and Works, and the Leader of the House in
the First Parliament of Ceylon (1947-52) and the Second Parliament
(1952-53). He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon (1953-56) and was also the
Minister of Defence and External Affairs. He was created a member of the
Privy Council (PC) on 22.4.1954, when sworn in at Queen's House on the only
occasion when a meeting of the Privy Council was held in Ceylon. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the following Orders: Legion d'honneur (France) 1954, Order of Merit (Italy) 1954, Order of Merit (Fed. Rep. of Germany) 1955, Order of the White Elephant (Thailand) 1956, Order of the Netherlands Lion (Netherlands), and appointed 1st Class, Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) 1954, and an Associate KStJ (16.11.1965). He was created a KBE (Civil) on 10.6.1948 and appointed a CH on 2.1.1956. He is also the recipient of the 1939-45 Defence and War Medals, Jubilee Medal 1935, Coronation Medals 1937 (C/G 18.6.1937) and 1953, Efficiency Medal (Ceylon) and 1st clasp (11.2.1949), Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal 1956, Ceylon Armed Service Long Service Medal 1968, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal 1972 and the Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal 1974. He was the first Chairman of the CLI Association in 1974. He died on 2.10.1980. Today his estate "Kandawala", houses the Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) and his Orders, Decorations & Medals and other memorabilia are on display there. Address: Kandawala, Kotelawalapura, Ratmalana, Ceylon.; Brogues Wood, Biddenden, Kent. Publications: An Asian Prime Minister's Story (1956) Recreations: Polo, Tennis, Riding. Clubs: Orient Club, No 10 Club (Institute of Directors), Sinhalese Sports Club and Eighty Club. |
Orders, Decorations and Medals belonging to Sir John Kotelawela as displayed at the Kotelawela Defence Academy. |
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Medals worn by Sir John Kotelawela |
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KBE (Neck and Breast Badges) |
Companion of Honour (CH) Neck Badge |
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Order of Merit (Italy) Ext. Link The Badges attached to the sash seem to be from a different Order. |
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Order of the White Elephant (Thailand) |
Order of Merit (Fed. Rep. of Germany) |
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Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) |
Legion d'honneur (France) |
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Associate KStJ |
© 1996 -2002, Charles Ameresekere. Content
may not be copied by any form without the prior consent of the Author.