Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has instructed officials to take legal action against unauthorized conferment and use of national awards and honorary titles, stressing the importance of upholding the integrity of these prestigious honors.
Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has issued directives to relevant authorities to pursue legal recourse against the unauthorized granting and misuse of national awards and honorary titles, signaling a crackdown on fraudulent practices in this domain.
The Presidential Secretariat has taken proactive measures to monitor and address instances where individuals and non-governmental organizations illegitimately confer awards, certificates, and titles falsely representing the esteemed national honors bestowed upon distinguished Sri Lankans by the President.
These accolades, traditionally bestowed through a rigorous and formal evaluation process overseen by designated authorities, hold significant value and prestige within Sri Lankan society.
Highlighting the urgency to curb the unauthorized appropriation of national award titles, the Presidential Secretary underscored the potential for such actions to undermine the integrity of the honors system and diminish the reputation of genuine recipients.
The establishment of the National Awards framework in 1986, as delineated in Extraordinary Gazette No. 387/3 dated 02.03.1986, has since undergone amendments detailed in subsequent government gazettes, including Government Gazette No. 627/8 dated 12-09-1990, Government Gazette No. 863/4 dated 20-03-1995, and Government Gazette No. 1535/12 dated 08-02-2008.
Additionally, the introduction of two new awards, namely ‘Vishishta Kaushalyabhimani’ and ‘Vishishta Republica Abhimani’, was sanctioned through Ministerial Note No. PS/NC/ACD/95/2023 presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 18-02-2023.
The nomination process for National Awards is facilitated by Provincial Governors and Cabinet Ministers, with recommendations evaluated by a Selection Committee appointed by the President and chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary.
Plans are underway to streamline the nomination process for eligible Sri Lankans through a new application system, aiming to enhance transparency and engagement in the selection process.
Following the President’s endorsement, a panel of academic experts appointed by the Presidential Secretary convenes to assess and select awardees, whose names are officially published in a gazette. The awards are ceremoniously presented by the President on significant national occasions, including Independence Day and National Hero’s Day, as well as during ceremonies honoring non-Sri Lankan recipients.
