Free Web Hosting by Netfirms
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

PROJECT ONE - Orders, Decorations and Medals relating to Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
from 1795 to the present.

A sample from the section on Police Medals
 

CEYLON POLICE MEDAL 1950-1972

This medal was instituted by a Royal Warrant of June 19, 1950 and replaced the Colonial Police Medals for Gallantry and Meritorious Service. A maximum of 10 awards for merit were allowed per year, with no restriction on the number of awards for gallantry. This medal was abolished in 1972 when Ceylon (Sri Lanka) became a republic.

Obverse- Head of the sovereign with usual titles
Reverse- Badge of the Ceylon Police Force, with CEYLON POLICE SERVICE, and below, either FOR GALLANTRY or FOR MERIT.
Metal- Silver
Suspension- Straight bar swiveling suspender
Ribbon- 35mm, khaki with 4.5mm silver (inner), 3.5mm light blue and 3.5mm dark blue (outer) edges. When awarded for gallantry a 1.5mm red stripe bisects the silver stripes.
Naming- Recipient's name and rank was impressed around the edge.

Examples-

For Merit:

Jack Van Sanden
Deputy Inspector-General of Police

Born on 11 Oct 1912, he was the son of Dr. Thomas Owen Van Sanden and Bandaramenike Kumarahamy. He was educated at Kingswood College, Kandy from 1922 to 1932, and passed the Cambridge Junior Matriculation. He married on 2 May 1936, Helen Gerryn, in Colombo, and they had two sons and one daughter.

He joined the Ceylon Police Force on 1 May 1932 as a Sub-Inspector and rose through the ranks as follows- Inspector 1 Oct 1941; Asst. Superintendent of Police 1 May 1950; Superintendent of Police 1 May 1960 and Deputy Inspector-General 1 Dec 1968. He attended a Course (Course 13), at the Police College, UK, from April to June 1959. He retired on 1 Feb 1971, and lived in Australia. Jack Van Sanden passed away on 10 Dec 2002.

He was the recipient of the following medals- The Ceylon Police Medal for Meritorious Service (EIIR Issue); The Defence Medal 1939-45; The Ceylon Police Independence Medal; The Ceylon Police Long Service Medal (GVIR Issue); St. John's Ambulance Service Medal, with 4 clasps for additional service.

 

 

DIG Jack Van Sanden - Ceylon Police

 

DIG Jack Van Sanden's medals