The Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, has directed the initiation of legal actions against the unauthorized conferment and utilization of national awards and honorary titles.
It has been found out that individuals and non-governmental entities are bestowing awards, certificates, and titles falsely representing the prestigious national honours granted by the President to distinguished Sri Lankans.
The process for nominations for National Awards is facilitated by Provincial Governors and Cabinet Ministers. Recommendations for the selection of awardees, both Sri Lankan and non-Sri Lankan individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to Sri Lanka, are evaluated by a Selection Committee appointed by the President and chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary. Plans are underway to devise a new application system to engage eligible Sri Lankans in the nomination process.
The establishment of the National Awards in 1986, as outlined in Extraordinary Gazette No. 387/3 dated 02.03.1986, was followed by subsequent amendments detailed in 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.