Deshabandhu (; ) is the third highest national honour awarded in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. It is awarded "for meritorious service". The title is held by no more than 150 living holders at any time. It is conferred with a citation and a silver medal with a symbol of a peacock. It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name. Deshabandhu ranks lower than

Deshamanya Deshamanya (; ; Pride of the Nation) is the second-highest national honour of Sri Lanka awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour. It is awarded for "''highly meritorious service''", and is conventionally used as a title or prefi ...

Awardees

Awardees include: ;1986 *

Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne Sri Lankabhimanya Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne (; 5 November 1931 – 16 April 2024) was a Sri Lankan activist, founder and president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement. He was nominated to the Constitutional Council as a civil representati ...

* Hewa Komanage Dharmadasa * Norendradas Jayaratnam Wallooppillai *

Daphne Attygalle Daphne Attygalle (née Kanagaratne; 1922 – 1989) was a Sri Lankan pathologist who was Professor of Pathology at the University of Colombo. Biography Daphne Kanagaratne was born in 1922. She was educated at St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo, and s ...

Wimala de Silva Deshabandu Wimala de Silva (2 June 1920 – 15 April 2007) was a prominent Sri Lankan educationist and social activist. She was a former chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and founding principal of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, ...

* Arulanandam Yesuadian Samuel Gnanam * David Edwin Hettiarachchi * Dhamital Senakumar Jayasundera * Clara Motwani ;1987 * Bulathsinhelage Sirisena Cooray * James Ernest Ivan Corea * Albert Edirisinghe * Don Jinadasa Attygalle * Siva Chinnatamby *

Lena Charlotte Fernando Lena or LENA may refer to: Places * Léna Department, a department of Houet Province in Burkina Faso * Lena, Manitoba, an unincorporated community located in Killarney-Turtle Mountain municipality in Manitoba, Canada * Lena, Norway, a village in ...

Mohamed Thassim Ahamed Furkhan Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, ...

* Sathischandra Jayasinghe * Abeysiri Mendis Munasinghe *

Abdul Haleem Sheriffdeen Abdul (also transliterated as Abdal, Abdel, Abdil, Abdol, Abdool, or Abdoul; , ) is the most frequent transliteration of the combination of the Arabic word '' Abd'' (, meaning "Servant") and the definite prefix '' al / el'' (, meaning "the"). It ...

* Franciskuhettige Gerald Hudson Silva * Samuel Jeyarajah Stephen * Victor Garwin Weerawardhana Ratnayake *

Michael Tissera Michael Hugh Tissera (born 23 March 1939) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in the 1975 Cricket World Cup. School Tissera was born at Colombo and educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, where, initially appearing in 1954 aged fo ...

Wickremasinghe Wimaladasa Deshabandu Wickramesinghe Wimaladasa (born 29 August 1943) is a Sri Lankan former sprinter who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He won two gold medals at the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iran, in the men's 400m and relay events. ...

;1988 *

Velu Annamalai Velu or Waylu may refer to: People * Suthivelu (1947–2012), Telugu actor * Velu Nachiyar (1730–1790s), queen regnant of Indian Sivaganga in 1760-1790 * Velu Prabhakaran, Indian filmmaker, cinematographer and actor * Velu Thampi Dalawa (1765� ...

* Mohamed Mohideen Mohamed Abdul Cader * Nuwarapaksa Hewayalage Keerthiratne * Sembukuttiarachchige Bertram Silva * Manicam Sivanathan * John William Subasinghe * Noel Wimalasena * Swarna Ferdinand * Alec Robertson * Mirisse Hewage Gunadasa Siriwardena *

Julian Bolling Deshabandu Julian Bolling (born 19 June 1966) is a Sri Lankan medal-winning swimmer who represented his country at numerous international competitions. He is fondly remembered as the poster boy of Sri Lankan swimming in the 1980s. He won 15 gold ...

* Kosgamage Thilaka Dhammika Jinadasa ;1989 * Palita Edward Dias Wijesiri Jayavardhana Karunaratna Weeraman * Bogoda Appuhamilage Premaratne * Callistus Reginald Seimon * Sita Seneviratne * Don Piyadasa Jayasinghe * Gardi Punchi Hewage Karunaratne * Jezima Ismail *

Joyce Selina Abeywardana Goonasekera Joyce may refer to: People * Joyce (name), list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname * Joyce, (born 1948), Brazilian singer-songwriter * James Joyce (1882–1941), Irish modernist writer *Joyce Brothers (1927-2013), Ame ...

* Edith Marguerite Grace Fernando ;1990 * Bomullage Dilipkumar Dharmasena * John Arthur Ameratunge *

Carl Sepala Illangakoon Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

* Bertram Russell Heyn * Victor Hettigoda * Sangarapully Sellamuttu * Surath Wickramasinghe * Ayisha Rauf * Eric Suriyasena *

Mohamed Sadique Gaffoor Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, ...

Surendra Ramachandran Deshamanya Surendra Ramachandran, FRCP was a Sri Lankan Physician and Nephrologist. He was the founder of Sri Lankas First Dialysis Unit. Education Educated at Royal College Colombo, he studied medicine Colombo Medical College now known as Fac ...

* Albert Athisayaratnam Page * Kaluthanthirige Nandasena Perera ;1991 * Nihal Wilfred Karunaratne * Abdul Raheman Mohamed Hathy * Ajith Mahendra de Silva Jayaratne * Jivaka Lalith Bhupendra Kotalawala * Lankalalama Arunasiri Adithiya ;1992 * Theva Anugriham Buell * Deepika Chanmugam * Kanitha Kumar Lal Devapura * Kombala Vithanage Damayanthi Darsha * Sriyantha Subashan Abeysekara Dissanayake * Balapuwaduge Rohan Duleep Mendis * Amugoda Arachchige Dayananda Gunawardena * Karunaratne Jayasuriya *

Chevalier Andrew Kariyawasam Chevalier may refer to: Honours Belgium * a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown * a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold * a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II * a title in the Belgian nobility France * a rank in the French Legion d'h ...

* Kuruppu Arachchilage Karunaratne * Sinhalage Buddhi Keerthisena * Mohotti Arachchilage Sriyani Kulawansa * Muthumuni Roy Quintus de Silva * Ethel Violet Rajapakse * George Wilfred Rajapakse *

Ranasinghe Arachchige Saranapala Perera Ranasinghe Ranasinghe () is both a Sinhalese people, Sinhalese given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Ranasinghe Premadasa (1924–1993), 3rd President of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1993 Surname

*Ajantha Ranasinghe (1940� ...

* Joseph Francis Antony Soza * Peremartne Weerakoon * Lihini Imala Weerasooriya ;1993 * Bernard Alfred Botejue * Reginald Sebastian Rodrigo Candappa * Arjun Rishya Fernando * Sirisumana Godage * Nahammal Kasipillai * Mas Dharma Kitchilan * Pathirannahelage Nimal Pathirana * Veeyanna Theyna Vaana Deivanayagam Pillai *

Arjuna Ranatunga Deshamanya Arjuna Ranatunga (; ; born 1 December 1963), is a Sri Lankan politician and former cricketer, who was the 1996 Cricket World Cup winning captain for Sri Lanka, and scored the winning boundary in the final. He is regarded as the pion ...

;1994 * Abdul Wahab Mohamed Ameer * Mohamed Rushdi Uvais * George Lawrence Andrew Ondaatjie * Sohli Edelji Captain * Wilbert Kaggodaarachchi *

Tikiri Banda Madugalla Tikiri is a village in Rayagada district of Orissa state in India. Tikiri is a small Industrial town located in Rayagada District in the State of Odisha. It is 50 kilometers away from Rayagada District Headquarter and 80 kilometers away from ...

* Aelian Alwis Cohomban Wickrama Jayasekera * Hevatantrige Patrick George Ernest Peiris * Percival Upajiva Ratnatunga * Weliwitigoda Ariyadasa Wimaladharma * Don Piyadasa Wijenarayana * Alfred Samaraweera ;1996 *

Aravinda de Silva Deshabandu Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva (, ; born 17 October 1965) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, regarded as one of the best Sri Lankan cricketers, he played in the team as an all-rounder. De Silva was a key member of the Sri L ...

Roshan Mahanama Deshabandu Roshan Siriwardene Mahanama (, ; born 31 May 1966) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a former ICC match referee. He was a key member for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team for Sri Lanka. He is the first man to have stood as a ma ...

Hashan Tillakaratne Deshabandu Hashan Prasantha Tillakaratne (born 14 July 1967) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a former Test captain for Sri Lanka. He was a key member for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team for Sri Lanka. He is currently a politician and ...

Asanka Gurusinha Deshabandu Asanka Pradeep Gurusinha ( Sinhala: අසංක ප්‍රදීප් ගුරුසිංහ, ; born 16 September 1966) is a Sri Lankan Australian former international cricketer who had an 11-year international career, playing ...

Sanath Jayasuriya Deshabandu Sanath Teran Jayasuriya (, ; born 30 June 1969), is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, captain, cricket administrator and coach. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest all rounders ever to play in ODI cricket. A left arm orthodox sp ...

Pramodya Wickramasinghe Wickramasinghe Gallage Pramodya (born August 14, 1971), commonly known as Pramodya Wickramasinghe, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm-fast bowler. He was a member of 1996 Cricket World Cup winning tea ...

Muttiah Muralitharan Deshabandu Muttiah Muralitharan (born 1972) is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, businessman and former professional cricketer. Averaging over six wickets per Test match, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the ...

* Romesh Kaluwitharana *

Chaminda Vaas Deshabandu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas (born 27 January 1974) is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer who represented the Sri Lanka national cricket team. He is a fast medium pace bowler and regarded as one ...

Kumar Dharmasena Deshabandu Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumar Dharmasena (born 24 April 1971) is a Sri Lankan cricket umpire and former international cricketer. He is a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and the first person to participate in an ICC ...

Marvan Atapattu Deshabandu Marvan Samson Atapattu (, , born 22 November 1970) is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, commentator and former professional cricketer. He played international cricket for the Sri Lankan cricket team from 1990 to 2007. A top-order batsman, ...

Ravindra Pushpakumara Deshabandu Karuppiahyage Ravindra Pushpakumara (born 21 July 1975), or Ravindra Pushpakumara, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil - Sinhalese mixed ancestry. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He was a key m ...

Upul Chandana Deshabandu Umagiliya Durage Upul Chandana (born 7 May 1972), popularly known as Upul Chandana, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played both Tests and ODIs. He was more specifically a leg spin bowler and was also an outstanding fielder. He w ...

;1998 * Primus Tillekeratne de Silva * Ananda Daivin Soysa *

Rajadurai Sellaiah Thanabalasundaram Rajadurai or Rajathurai () is a Tamils, Tamil male given name. Due to the Tamil name, Tamil tradition of using patronymic surnames it may also be a surname for males and females. Notable people Given name * C. Rajadurai (born 1927), Ceylonese poli ...

* Adhikari Mudiyanselage Dharmasena * Nowfel S Jabir * Rajapakse Pathirannehelage Jayaratne Pathirana * Sunna Deniyage Gunadasa * Seekkubaduge Wilbert Silva * Mapatunage James Perera * Minuwanpitiyage Darmasiri Dayananda Pieris * Thambimuttu Duraisingam * Muhammed Abdul Hameed Muhammed Hussain * Merangne Gaulis Mendis * Chasnyn Musafer * BalaupasakageYasodis Thudawe * Lady Puvaneshwari Vaithianathan * Kolamba Patabendige Tissaweera Siriwardana Jinasena ;2005 * A. E. T. Ellawala * A. L. M. Abusali * Arumadura Nandasena Silva Kulasinghe *

Christopher Gunapala Uragoda Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...

* D. P. Wickremasinghe * Diyanath Samarasinghe * Harold Herath *

Indradasa Hettiarachchi Deshabandu Indradasa Hettiarachchi (13 October 1927 – 11 January 2025) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as Minister of Industries. Life and career Hettiarachchi was born 13 October 1927 in Kalutara, the son of a tea, rubber and coconut ...

* Jinadasa Guruge *

Joe Abeywickrama Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama ( Sinhala:ජෝ අබේවික්‍රම) (22 June 1927 – 21 September 2011), popularly as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Initially famed ...

* K. P. Silva * Kapila Gunawardena * Kirthi Tennakoon * Lakshman de Mel * Lionel Fernando * Lyn de Alwis * Macky Hashim * N Navaratnarajah * Olcott Gunasekera * Osmund Jayaratne * Don Chandraprema Patrick Amarasinghe * Ranjith Athapattu * Reginald George Bernard Forbes * S. D. R. Jayaratne * Siran U. Deraniyagala * Saddhamangala Karunaratne * Senaka Dias Bandaranayake * Stanley Kirinde * Sivaramalingam Anandacoomaraswamy * Suriya Wickremasinghe * Swarana Jayaweera * Tilak de Soysa * Tissa Abeysekara * Tony Ranasinghe * Tuley de Silva * Vajira Chithrasena * Vivendra Lintotawela * M. A. Careem ;2017 * Deivanayagam Eassuwaren * Lakshman Lucian de Silva Weerasena * Leslie Shelton Devendra * Mahinkande Gamladdalage Kularatne * Susanthika Jayasinghe * Ranjan Madugalle * Shanthilal Nilkanth Wickremesinghe * Thommadura Pabilis Silva * W. K. H. Wegapitiya, Wegapitiya Kattadiyalage Hemachandra Wegapitiya * Ahamed Rizvi Mohamed Rifkhan * Sivanalagu Balakrishnan ;2019 *M.R. Latiff *Edwin Ariyadasa *Sugath Thilakaratne *Professor Wimal Dissanayake *Anura Punchi Bandara Tennakoon *Anslem Boniface Perera *Professor Raja Sarath Bandara *Professor Lakshman Dissanayake *Professor Shirajini Niriella *Professor Nimal Herath Sadaratne *Jerome L. de Silva *Augustin Roshan

References

External links

{{Honors and decorations of Sri Lanka Deshabandu, Civil awards and decorations of Sri Lanka