Corporal Ratnayake was decorated with this medal for his selfless act to save lives of four people who were faced with the danger of drowning in a lagoon in Batticaloa on December 21st 2016.President Sirisena awarded the Veerodhara Vibushana medal to wife of Late Warrant Officer Y. M. S. Yaparatne who lost his life while carrying our relief operations conducted by the Air Force during floods in 2017.

Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Major General. Shantha Kottegoda, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sunmangala Dias were also present on this occasion.