Thank you for viewing my exhibit about AVM. Rohan Amerasekera DFC & Bar

Even though I have corresponded with many of you via email, I have not had an opportunity to introduce myself. So here's some information about me and my interest in medal collecting and research.

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) where I was educated at St. Peter's College, Colombo and at the Colombo University. I migrated to Canada in 1989 where I live with my wife and three children.

I have been interested in history in general and military history in particular, from a very early age. My mother was a history teacher and her stories about Napoleon, Nelson etc kept me enthralled as a young boy. She passed away when I was 8 years old, but the interest in history that she had instilled in me remains. However, it was the three medals (The Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Efficiency Medal [Ceylon]) that my father had received for his service with the Ceylon Garrison Artillery in WW2 that sparked the curiosity to find out more about them and eventually a life long interest in collecting and researching war medals.

I have been researching to write a book about "Orders, Decorations and Medals relating to Ceylon /Sri Lanka from 1795 to the present", and several other projects including the "1914-15 Star to the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps" (including photos and biographical details of the recipients), "The Boys from Ceylon" (Ceylonese volunteers in the RAF during WW2), "Decorations and Medals for Long Service and Good Conduct in the Ceylon Volunteer Force" (Recipients of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration [VD] and the medal, The Efficiency Decoration [Ceylon] and the Efficiency Medal [Ceylon]), and "AMER" the biography of my relative, AVM E. R. Amerasekera DFC & Bar (RAF and RCyAF).

I have been a member of Orders and Medals Research Society (OMRS), Canadian Society of Military Medals and Insignia (CSMMI), Military Collectors Club of Canada (MCCofC) for nearly 30 years and am a former member of the Air Force Association of Canada. I have been a collector, researcher and a part-time dealer of Military Medals during that time. Even though I have not attended OMRS, CSMMI and MCCC conventions, I have contributed to this amazing hobby in other ways.

As a subject matter expert in ODM relating to Ceylon / Sri Lanka I have assisted many medal collectors and genealogists on the above topic via forums and inquiries received through my website and by mail. I have contributed articles to medal related journals and to the Sri Lankan newspapers re: military history and collecting medals. I have also contributed to various medal forums and genealogy sites on the internet and also maintain my own website www.ceylonmedals.com, (which has not been updated in a while.)

I have also contributed to two books “No 640 Halifax Squadron RAF Leconfield” by Bill Norman and “Seventy Five Percent Luck” by Fred Papple, and am a member of the No 158 and No 640 Squadron Associations and have assisted with research through the Halifax Appreciation Society. I have also provided all of the medal related data for the book published by the Sri Lanka Army’s Signals Corps for their Anniversary (Published 2019-20).

If you have any comments or feedback re: this exhibit or any details re: ODM relating to Ceylon / Sri Lanka, please contact me at:

ceylon_medals@hotmail.com

ceylon2003@hotmail.com

Thank you,

Charles Ameresekere

OMRS 4842