The Government will honour the next of kin of troops who died in the military campaign to defeat Tiger guerrillas with the decoration Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said in a proclamation that he is "desirous of awarding this decoration to reward the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and children of heroic fighters of all ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police Service belonging to both Regular and Volunteer Forces."
The proclamation published in a Gazette Extraordinary on July 16 adds that troops and police "who made the Supreme Sacrifice or who were reported missing in the course of bravely fighting to defend the unitary status, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mother Sri Lanka”. The decoration is a “mark of the sublime tribute from her to them for the great sacrifice made and commitment shown for the cause of protecting her."
The medal, manufactured out of metal and gold plated, will be awarded at a special ceremony held after invitations are sent to the would-be recipients by a presidential proclamation. The medals will be awarded by the President, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Minister of Defence or any other person appointed for the purpose.
Provision has been made to enable the President to cancel and annul the award of this decoration to any person on the recommendation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. |
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