President institutes commemorative medal for Navy

• In his proclamation, President Dissanayake emphasized that the new award serves as a mark of appreciation for the discipline, courage, and honour displayed by the Navy, particularly acknowledging their recent critical role in disaster relief operations during Cyclone Ditwah

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an Extraordinary Gazette to award a commemorative medal to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Sri Lanka Navy, as well as civil employees of the approved cadre, to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The new decoration was formally established through an Extraordinary Gazette notification issued on January 19, 2026. According to the President’s proclamation, the medal is intended to recognize all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Navy and civil employees of the approved cadre who were in active service on December 9, 2025.   

The medal’s establishment coincides with a series of commemorative events, including the “International Fleet Review 2025,” which saw the participation of warships from eight nations, including India, Pakistan, and Russia. During the main anniversary celebrations held earlier in December at the new Defence Headquarters in Akuregoda, a representative group of naval personnel, including Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, symbolically received the medal.   

In his proclamation, President Dissanayake emphasized that the new award serves as a mark of appreciation for the discipline, courage, and honour displayed by the Navy, particularly acknowledging their recent critical role in disaster relief operations during Cyclone Ditwah.   

The regulations governing the newly instituted medal, as detailed in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2472/02, specify strict eligibility and forfeiture criteria. The medal is awarded to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Navy, including those undergoing basic training, as well as permanent civil employees of the approved cadre who were in active service on December 9, 2025.