The award ceremony started with the National anthem and the two minutes of silence to honour the soldiers who sacrificed their lives. Fifty officers who were retired and officers in service in Tri forces obtained Vishishta Seva Vibushana medals from the President.
Firstly, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutinant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe and , the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Vice Marshel Kapila Jayampathy,were presented medals by the President. Then medals were offered to the rest of the officers by the President.