Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama
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The Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama (Medal of Honour for Supreme Sacrifice) ( Sinhala: උත්තම පූජා ප්‍රණාම පදක්කම ''uṭama pūjā pranāma padakkama'') is the medal presented to the next of kin of all servicepersons of the
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and
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of Sri Lanka in recognition of a serviceperson's death in the line of duty. It is awarded to the families of personnel confirmed killed in action or
missing in action Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. They may have been killed, wounded, captured, ex ...
.


Design

The medal is gold-plated metal circular in shape, suspended from a blue ribbon. The obverse face holds at its center an outline of the Sri Lankan island mass incised in its center with an engraved form of a male soldier holding a weapon with his left hand, and the right raised in triumph. The engraving is meant to symbolize a lack of life, indicating the death of the serviceperson. The figure stands on a pair of upraised hands from below, symbolizing his/her family and their support and encouragement contributing to the serviceperson's sacrifice. Both faces of the medal are bordered by stylized
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along the edge, meant to symbolize the brighter future the individual ensured for their nation with their sacrifice. The obverse holds the
Emblem of Sri Lanka The national emblem of Sri Lanka is used by the State of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan government in connection with the administration and government of the country. The current emblem has been in use since 1972 and created under the ideas and g ...
with the Sinhala inscription ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) engraved in a half circle at the bottom of the medal.


Award process

The medal has thus far been awarded by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Award regulations stipulate that the medal be awarded jointly to the spouse, children and parents of a dead or missing serviceperson should he/she have been married at the time of (confirmed or suspected) death, and to the parents only should the serviceperson have been unmarried at the time of death. The
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has the authority to annul or restore the award to any person on the recommendation of the Defence Secretary. Being a posthumous award, the medal has no accompanying
ribbon bar A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
.


See also

*
Elizabeth Cross The Elizabeth Cross is a form of recognition given to the recognised next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after the Second World War. It bears the name of the late British mo ...
* Memorial Cross *
List of wound decorations This list of wound decorations is an index of articles that describe notable awards given for wounds; usually, though not exclusively, to military personnel during wartime. See also * Lists of awards * List of military decorations * Wound st ...


References


External links


Ministry of Defence : Sri LankaSri Lanka ArmySri Lanka NavySri Lanka Air ForceSri Lanka Police
{{Military awards and decorations of Sri Lanka Military awards and decorations of Sri Lanka Awards established in 2010 Wound decorations