Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama

The Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama ( "Meritorious Sacrifice Recognition Medal") (Sinhala උත්තම පදක්කම) is a medal presented to next of kin of all ranks of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Sri Lanka Police who have been killed in action or listed missing in action during in the course of bravely fighting to defend the unitary status, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mother Sri Lanka.

How medal awarded

The parents presently among the living, wives and children of fighters (Ranaviru) of all ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the Police Service of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka who paid the supreme sacrifice in the struggle against the terrorists are eligible to receive this medal subject to the following requirements : If at the time of death the soldier had been married his legally married wife and children and parents presently among the living would be eligible to receive the medal. If the soldier (Ranaviru) had been unmarried person at the time of his death his parents presently among the living only will be eligible to receive such medal.

The President may cancel and annul the award to any person on the recommendation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Further, it shall be competent for him to restore such decoration too.

Design

The medal is circular in shape, manufactured out of metal and gold plated. At the centre of the obverse of it shall be embossed a map of the Unitary State of Sri Lanka and on such map shall be shown an embossed form of a soldier (Ranaviru) representing the armed personnel of the three Armed Forces and the Police Service who took part in the anti-terrorist operations, holding a weapon with his left hand and the right hand raised in triumphant mood. The incised figure of the fighter indicates that he is not among the living today. The fighter is resting his feet on two hands held high from below. These hands symbolize his mother, father, wife and children. Their supporting him on their hands indicate the encouragement they so heroically gave him to protect the Motherland as long as he lived. The sun rays depicted on the border of both the obverse and the reverse of the medal symbolize the bright future the soldiers ensured the Motherland by the sacrifice of their valuable lives. The emblem of the Republic of Sri Lanka consisting of the figure of a lion which being the totem of the Sri Lankan people set in the centre circle of the reverse of the medal encircled by a border of a lotus - flower motif and also by a decorative paddy-ear pattern running round same and a “Dharmachakkra” positioned atop the design with a “Punkalasa” (Cornucopia) at the base, rising sun at right and moon at left with the Sinhala inscription emblem of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka printed prominently at the bottom of the design.

References

External links

• The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
• “Uththama Pooja”
• "Uttama Pooja" - medal awarding ceremony - Puttalam