Gallantry in the Air Recognized
November 12, 2019His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces conferred medals of gallantry to 14 Air Warriors including the Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias during a colourful ceremony held today (11 November 2019) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
The "Weerodhara Vibhushanaya"(WV), the "Weera Wickrema Vibhushanaya" (WWV), the "Rana Wickrema Padakkama" (RWP) and the "Rana Sura Padakkama"(RSP) were awarded to a cross section of the recipients from the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The WV is awarded to all ranks of the three services for individual acts of gallantry of a non military nature and for meritorious acts of a humane nature. The decoration will be conferred by His Excellency the President. This decoration was awarded to 5 recipients whose names are given below. The recipients of this decoration will be entitled to use the symbol ‘WV’ after their names.
• Wing Commander KADAC Kuruwita
• Wing Commander DL Hewavitharana
• Wing Commander SR Jayaratne
• Wing Commander DS Samaraweera
• Squadron Leader DMADB Dambakotuwa
The WWV is awarded to all ranks of the three services for individual acts of gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy and for meritorious acts of a humane nature. The decoration will be conferred by His Excellency the President. This decoration was awarded to 3 recipients. The recipients of this decoration will be entitled to use the symbol WWV after their names.
• Air Vice Marshal SK Pathirana (Awarded twice)
• Group Captain RADTM Weerarathna
• Squadron Leader HVG Mahanama
The RWP which is awarded to individual associated acts of bravery in the face of the enemy and performed voluntarily. The decoration will be conferred by His Excellency the President. The recipients of this decoration will be entitled to use the symbol RWP after their names. The decoration was awarded to 3 recipients including the Commander of the Air Force.
• Air Marshal Sumangala Dias
• Air Commodore SD Kotage
• Sergeant Gunawardana DASL (Posthumous)
The RSP is awarded to all ranks of the three services for distinguished conduct in the face for the enemy. The decoration will be conferred by His Excellency the President. Recipients of the decoration will be entitled to use the symbol RSP after their names. The RSP was awarded to 3 recipients whose names are mentioned below.
• Air Vice Marshal WLRP Rodrigo
• Air Commodore KKAK Kaluarachchi
• Flight Sergeant Lanuhewa CPSK
Mr. Udaya Ranjith Seneviratne, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (Retd) Shantha Kottegoda, Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne were among the distinguished guests at the event. Members of the Air Force Board of Management and spouses of recipients were among the attendees who witnessed the ceremony.
courtesy : airforce.lk
