Deshamanya ( si, දේශමාන්ය, translit=Dēshamāṉya; ta, தேசமான்ய, translit=Tēcamāṉya; 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
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
P. R. Anthonis
Deshamanya Polwattearachchige Romiel Anthonis FRCS (21 January 1911 – 17 December 2009), known as "P. R. Anthonis", was a leading Sri Lankan surgeon. He was Chancellor (education), Chancellor of the University of Colombo from 1981 to 2002.
Earl ...
– surgeon and academic
*
Gamani Corea
Deshamanya Gamani Corea (4 November 1925 – 3 November 2013) was a Sri Lankan economist, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Under-Secretary-General of the ...
– economist, civil servant and diplomat
*
M. C. M. Kaleel
Deshamanya Dr. Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Kaleel (3 February 1899 – 19 October 1994) was a Ceylonese physician, social worker and politician.
Mohammad Cassim Mohammad Kaleel was born on 3 February 1899, the second son of Cassim Lebbe Marikar, ...
Miliani Sansoni
Deshamanya Miliani Edward Claude Sansoni (18 November 1904 - 1979) was a Ceylonese judge, who served as the 32nd Chief Justice of Ceylon.
Early life and education
Born on 18 November 1904 to Claude Aldons Sansoni, JP, a Proctor and Hilda Grat ...
–
Chief Justice of Ceylon
The Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head of the judiciary of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Established in 1801, the Chief Justice is one of ten Supreme Court justices; the other nine are t ...
*
Victor Tennekoon
Deshamanya Justice Victor Tennekoon QC (9 September 1914 – April 1990) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and jurist. He served as the 35th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, as well as the 33rd Attorney General and 23rd Solicitor General. From 1979 to 1984 ...
–
Chief Justice of Ceylon
The Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head of the judiciary of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Established in 1801, the Chief Justice is one of ten Supreme Court justices; the other nine are t ...
Neville Kanakeratne
Deshamanya Neville T. D. Kanakaratna (1923 - 19 September 1999) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, diplomat and scholar, who was the former Governor of the Southern Province. He was the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to I ...
University of Jaffna
The University of Jaffna ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழகம், translit=Yāḻppāṇap Palkalaikkaḻakam; si, යාපනය විශ්වවිද්යාලය, ''Yāpanaya Viśvavidyālaya''; ...
Hector Wilfred Jayewardene
Deshamanya Hector Wilfred "Harry" Jayewardene, QC (November 3, 1916 - April 20, 1990) was a prominent Sri Lankan lawyer. In 1979 he was chairman of a UNESCO conference on human rights in Bangkok and later chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation I ...
– lawyer, member
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006. It was a subsidiary body of ...
Shiva Pasupati
Deshamanya Shivakumaran Pasupati is a leading Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, President's Counsel, Solicitor General and Attorney General.
Early life and family
Pasupati is the son of physician V. T. Pasupati and Kamalambikai. He was educated at the ...
Attorney General of Sri Lanka
The Attorney General of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government's chief legal adviser, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The Attorney General is usually a highly respected Senior Advocate, and is appointed by the ruling ...
;1990
*
Sepala Attygalle
General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Perm ...
Badi-ud-din Mahmud
Deshamanya Al-Haj Badi-ud-din Mahmud (23 June 1904 – 16 June 1997) was a Sri Lankan politician. He served ten years as Minister of Education and two years as the Minister of Health and Housing.
Early life
Badi-ud-din Mahmud was born in ...
Baku Mahadeva
Deshamanya Balakumara Mahadeva ( ta, பாலகுமாரன் மகாதேவா; 29 October 1921 – 29 November 2013; commonly known as Baku Mahadeva) was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil civil servant.
Early life and family
Mahadeva was ...
E. L. Senanayake
Deshamanya Edward Lionel Senanayake (known commonly as E.L Senanayake) (8 August 1920 – 29 January 2000) was a Sri Lankan politician belonging to the United National Party. He was the 12th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Speaker of the ...
– politician,
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the presiding officer of the chamber. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, in office since 20 August 2020. The Speaker fulfills ...
*
Montague Jayawickrama
Major Deshamanya Walter Geoffrey Montague "Monti" Jayawickrama (January 15, 1911 – November 16, 2001) was a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the Minister of Transport and Public Works (1952-1956) and the Minister of Public Administrati ...
*
K. W. Devanayagam
Deshamanya Kanapathipillai William "Bill" Devanayagam (26 March 1910 – 17 December 2002) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician, government minister and Member of Parliament.
Early life
Devanayagam was born on 26 March 1910. A Roman Cat ...
*
Nissanka Wijeyeratne
Deshamanya Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne ( si, නිශ්ශංක පරාක්රම විජයරත්න) (14 June 1924 – 7 January 2007), known as ''Nissanka Wijeyeratne'', was a Sri Lankan politician, civil servant,
dipl ...
Christopher Weeramantry
Sri Lankabhimanya Christopher Gregory Weeramantry, AM (17 November 1926 – 5 January 2017) was a Sri Lankan lawyer who was a Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 1991 to 2000, serving as its vice-president from 1997 to 2000 ...
Queen's Counsel
In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister o ...
,
Attorney General of Sri Lanka
The Attorney General of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government's chief legal adviser, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The Attorney General is usually a highly respected Senior Advocate, and is appointed by the ruling ...
;1992
*
Abdul Bakeer Markar
Deshamanya Marhoom Al Haj Mohammed Abdul Bakeer Markar (12 May 1917 – 10 September 1997) was a Sri Lankan politician and civil servant. He was the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and Governor of the Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Souther ...
E. L. B. Hurulle
Deshamanya Edwin Loku Bandara Hurulle ( Sinhala: එඩ්වින් ලොකු බණඩාර හුරුල්ලේ) (19 January 1919 – 6 April 2009) (known as ''E. L. B. Hurulle'') was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the Provincial ...
Suppiah Sharvananda
Deshamanya Suppiah Sharvananda (also spelt Suppiah Sarvananda) was the 37th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and the first Governor of the Western Province.
Early life
Sharvanda was born on 22 February 1923 in Kayts, Jaffna District. He attended St. ...
Geoffrey Bawa
Deshamanya Geoffrey Manning Bawa, FRIBA (23 July 1919 – 27 May 2003) was a Sri Lankan architect. He was among the most influential Asian architects of his generation.
Early life
Geoffrey Bawa was born in Colombo on 23 July 1919, the young ...
Richard Udugama
Major General Deshamanya Alexander Richard Udugama, MBE (11 November 1911 – 14 May 1995) was a Sri Lankan military leader, politician and diplomat. Former Army Commander (1964–1966), he was elected as Member of Parliament for Matale from ...
Noel Wimalasena
Deshamanya Noel Wimalasena (23 March 1914 – 5 May 1994) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and the first Governor of Sabaragamuwa.
Early life and education
Nanediri Wimalasena was born on 23 March 1914 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He attended An ...
Lalith Kotelawala
Deshmanya Deshabandu Jeewaka Lalith Bhupendra Kotelawala is a Sri Lankan businessman, who was the chairman of Ceylinco Consolidated and also was the founding chairman of Seylan Bank. He was listed in 2007 Sri Lanka Richest List. He was remand ...
– Businessman
*
Nandadasa Kodagoda
Deshamanya Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda MRCP, MD was the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo.
He was graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1956 and initially worked for government hospitals of Galle, Colombo, & Karawanella. L ...
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 Fa ...
Duleep Mendis
Deshamanya Louis Rohan Duleep Mendis (born 25 August 1952), known as Duleep Mendis, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and former captain of the team, who captained Sri Lanka to their first Test series victory in 1985. He was primarily a special ...
Vernon Mendis
Deshamanya Dr Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis (5 December 1925 – 23 June 2010) was a prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, who served as the United Nations' Special Envoy to the Middle East. He is referred to as the ''Sri Lanka's Father of Diplomacy ...
Ranjit Abeysuriya
Deshamanya Ranjith Abeysuriya, PC (1932 - 23 May 2014) was a Sri Lankan lawyer. He was the chairman of the National Police Commission, director public prosecutions of the Attorney General's Department, president of the Bar Association of Sri La ...
– lawyer
*
Duncan White
Major Deshamanya Duncan M. White MBE, ED (1 March 1918 – 3 July 1998) was a Sri Lankan sportsman. He was the first Ceylonese athlete to win an Olympic medal, winning silver in the 400-metre hurdles at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, Eng ...
W. D. Amaradeva
Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Don Albert Perera ( si, වන්නකුවත්තවඩුගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් පෙරේරා; ta, டபிள்யூ. டி. அமரதேவா; 5 December 1927 – 3 Nov ...
Mahesh Amalean
Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean (born 4 April 1955) is a Sri Lankan engineer and industrialist. He is the current Chairman of MAS Holdings.
Early life and education
Amalean was born to parents with Gujarati ancestry, his father was in the family tex ...
Radhika Coomaraswamy
Deshamanya Radhika Coomaraswamy (born 17 September 1953)is a Sri Lankan lawyer, diplomat and human rights advocate who served as the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict until 13 ...
– Academic, Human Rights Activist,
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under ...
Rohan de Saram
Deshamanya Rohan de Saram (born 9 March 1939) is a British-born Sri Lankan cellist. Until his 30s, he made his name as a classical artist, but has since become renowned for his involvement in and advocacy of contemporary music. He travels widely an ...
Cyril Herath
Deshamanya L. D. Cyril Herath was a Sri Lankan Inspector-General of Police and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
Education
He was educated at St. John's College, Nugegoda and at the Royal College, Colombo and graduated from the ...
Harry Jayawardena
Don Harold Stassen Jayawardena (born 17 August 1942 in Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka), known as Harry Jayawardena, is a Sri Lankan industrialist. He is chairman of Melstacorp PLC and is the Honorary Consul General for Denmark in Sri Lanka. Forbes listed ...
– Businessman
* Nihal Jinasena – industrialist and sportsman
*
Premasiri Khemadasa
Deshamanya Kala Keerthi Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa ( Sinhala: ආචාර්ය ප්රේමසිරි කේමදාස ) (25 January 1937 – 24 October 2008) also known as "Khemadasa Master" was a Sri Lankan music composer. Explorin ...
– Composer
*
W. D. Lakshman
Deshamanya Weligamage Don Lakshman (commonly known as W. D. Lakshman) popularly known as Professor W. D. Lakshman is a Sri Lankan economist, professor, lecturer, academic and author who also served as the 15th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri ...
Denis Perera
General Deshamanya Joseph Everard Denis Perera, VSV, FCMI (10 October 1930 – 11 August 2013) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1977 to 1981. He was also the Sri Lankan High Commissioner ...
– Lieutenant General
*
P. Ramanathan
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, CMG, King's Counsel, KC ( ta, பொன்னம்பலம் இராமநாதன், translit=Poṉṉampalam Irāmanātaṉ; 16 April 1851 – 26 November 19 ...
Bradman Weerakoon
Deshamanya Robin Bradman Weerakoon, CCS (born 20 October 1930) is a Sri Lankan civil servant. As a senior bureaucrat of the Sri Lankan government, he served nine Sri Lankan heads of state in a career spanning half a century.David, Marianne (inte ...
James Peter Obeyesekere III
Deshamanya James Peter Obeyesekere III (14 July 1915 – 23 October 2007) was a Sri Lankan politician and aviator. A Senator, he was also a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Finance.
;2008
* Ramesh Mahendran
;2017
* Abbasally Akbar
*
K. M. de Silva
Professor Kingsley Muthumuni de Silva (born 31 December 1931), is a Sri Lankan academic, historian and author. A former lecturer of history at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, de Silva has written numerous books on Sri Lankan history includi ...
Priyani Soysa
Deshamanya Priyani Elizabeth Soysa ( si, ප්රියානි සොයිසා; 23 November 1925 – 7 April 2023) was a Sri Lankan scientist who was Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics of the University of Colombo and the first woman to ...
*
Latha Walpola
Deshamanya Matharage Rita Genevieve Fernando, better known by her stage name Latha Walpola ( si, ලතා වල්පොල), is a prominent Sri Lankan vocal artist. It was during when Walpola was a member of a church choir, that she began a ...
Indrajit Coomaraswamy
Indrajit Coomaraswamy ( ta, இந்திரஜித் குமாரசுவாமி, si, ඉන්ද්රජිත් කුමාරස්වාමි; born 3 April 1950) is a Sri Lankan economist and the 14th Governor of the Cen ...
Mohan Munasinghe
Mohan Munasinghe is a Sri Lankan physicist, engineer and economist with a focus on energy, water resources, sustainable development and climate change. He was the 2021 Blue Planet Prize Laureate, and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on ...
* Moragoda Christopher Walter Pinto
* Surath Wickremesinghe
2021
• Dr. Nuwarapakshage Auranga Sathyajith Jayadewa.
( The youngest title holder of the country )