Seventeen (17) senior naval officers felicitated with Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV)

Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President and Commander - in - Chief of the Armed Forces of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka felicitated senior officers of the tri-services by awarding prestigious Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) and 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal on 01st February 2023. The dignified ceremony was held at the President's House in Kandy and the ceremony was also attended by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera.

The Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) is awarded to senior officers of the tri-services in recognition of their distinguished and loyal service which counts not less than twenty-five years. Accordingly, seventy seven (77) serving and retired officers of the tri-services received this distinguished service decoration from the President for year 2019, 2020 and 2021. Among them were 53 officers from the Sri Lanka Army, 17 officers from the Sri Lanka Navy and 07 officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Thus, Rear Admiral USR Perera (Retd), Rear Admiral KWARI Ranasinghe, Rear Admiral DMLA Dissanayake (Retd), Rear Admiral AARK Perera (Retd), Rear Admiral DH Kularatne (Retd), Rear Admiral UI Serasinghe (Retd), Rear Admiral KG Paul (Retd), Rear Admiral AK Guruge (Retd), Rear Admiral ASK Senadheera (Retd) and Rear Admiral HLADF Senaviratne (Retd) for 2019, Rear Admiral PDS Dias (Retd), Rear Admiral SB Senarathne (Retd), Rear Admiral LHSR Lelwala (Retd) and Rear Admiral WHUP Hewage (Retd) for 2020 and Rear Admiral HGUD Kumar, Rear Admiral MSK Mahawatta and Rear Admiral TWW Leelaratne for 2021 were felicitated by awarding VSV.

In addition, the 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal designed particularly for the forthcoming Independence Day celebration was symbolically awarded to tri-service personnel during the ceremony. As such, the President pinned the 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal on Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, on this occasion.

State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Chief of Staff to the President and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Mr Sagala Ratnayaka, the Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, a group of senior officers from the tri-services, distinguished invitees and other ranks were also present on this occasion.