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PROJECT ONE - Orders, Decorations
and Medals relating to Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
from 1795 to the present.
A sample of a Gallantry Decoration from Part Two of Project One
WEERA WICKREMA VIBUSHANAYA (WWV)
Instituted by Presidential Proclamation in Gazette No 156/5 of 1.9.1981
Description: A medal of near oval form.
Obverse: Bears in relief, a square shaped column head as seen in Mihintale
with the four corners protruding outwards. In the centre are three Sinhala
warriors in a warlike posture surrounded by an outer border of a curved
creeper leaf motif (GETALIYAPATH).
Reverse: Bears in relief the Armorial Ensign of the Republic of Sri Lanka in
the center comprising the Heraldic Lion of Sri Lanka surrounded by a lotus
petal border within a sheaf of paddy, surmounted by the wheel of Doctrine,
with the filled vessel at the base, with a depiction of the sun in splendour
and the Moon, on the right and left respectively, surrounded by the legend
'FOR GALLANTRY AND MERITORIOUS ACTS' inscribed in Sinhala and Tamil and the
year of institution, 1981 inscribed below, and the whole surrounded by the
design as depicted in the obverse.
Metal: Silver.
Suspension: Plain fixed suspender.
Ribbon: 1 ¼ inches in width. Mid yellow with three red (described as being
wine in colour) stripes, each 3/16 of an inch in width, one of which is in
the centre, and the other two on either side.
Bars: Awarded for those who qualify on a subsequent occasion to receive this
Decoration. In undress uniform, when ribbons only are worn, the wearing of a
small gilted Lotus on the ribbon denotes the grant of a bar.
The Decoration shall be granted to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer
Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Sri Lanka for
individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of a military nature of
a high order in the face of the enemy performed voluntarily whilst on active
service without regard for his own security with the objective of
safeguarding thereby the lives of his comrades or facilitating the
operational aim of his force or for a meritorious act or a series of acts of
a humane nature of a high order displayed in saving life from drowning, fire
and rescue operations in mines, floods and similar calamities under
circumstances of bodily injury or danger to the life of the rescuer, the
degree of courage and promptitude displayed being taken into consideration,
as recommended by the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy or
the Commander of the Air Force to receive the award under the terms and
conditions defined in the gazette.
The act of gallantry, for which the Decoration is to be conferred, should be
witnessed by no less than three persons, and a Board of not less than three
senior officers nominated by the Service Commanders will examine the
recommendations.
This Decoration is worn on the left breast, and it will be worn immediately
after the Weerodhara Vibushanaya. It can be awarded posthumously to the
lawful next-of-kin of the recipient or to a person nominated by the
next-of-kin.
The names of the persons upon whom the Decoration is conferred shall be
published in the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
and a Register of all such recipients shall be maintained under the
directions of H.E. The President, and the Personal Number, Rank and Name of
the recipient, together with the date of award to be recorded in it.
The Decoration shall be conferred by H.E. the President by a citation under
his/her hand and seal and the award shall be made personally by H.E. the
President.
The names of the Persons upon whom the Decoration is conferred shall be
published in the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
and a Register of all such recipients shall be maintained under the
directions of H.E. the President.
Every recipient of the Decoration shall be entitled to use the post-nominal
letters 'WWV'.
If a recipient of this Decorations suffers death by sentence of a
court-martial or other Military, Naval or Air Force Court, or is cashiered,
dismissed, removed, or discharged with disgrace or ignominy from the Armed
Forces, or is convicted of treason, sedition, mutiny, cowardice, desertion,
or disgraceful conduct of an unnatural kind or is dismissed or discharged
for misconduct, or who while subject to Military, Naval or Air Force law, is
convicted by the civil power, he shall forfeit the Decoration, unless H.E.
The President shall direct otherwise. |
