# 1998 Sri Lankan national honours

In April 1998 President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga awarded national honours to 78 individuals for distinguished services to mark the golden jubilee of Sri Lankan independence.

## Deshamanya

Fourteen individuals received the Deshamanya honour:
* Ranjit Abeysuriya (1932–2014), lawyer
* W. D. Amaradeva (1927–2016), musician
* Ken Balendra (born 1940), businessman
* Chitrasena (1921–2005), dancer
* Charitha Prasanna de Silva
* H. L. de Silva (1928–2009), lawyer
* R. K. W. Goonesekera (born 1928), academic
* Tamara Ilangaratne (born 1925), politician
* A. T. Kovoor (1898–1978), academic
* Vernon Mendis (1925–2010), diplomat
* Christopher Rajindra Panabokke
* Duncan White (1918–1998), athlete
* Doreen Winifred Wickramasinghe
* Elanga Wikramanayake, lawyer

## Deshabandu

Seventeen individuals received the Deshabandu honour:
* P. T. de Silva (1929–2015), physician
* Adhikari Mudiyanselage Dharmasena
* Thambimuttu Duraisingam
* S. D. Gunadasa (1931–2014), businessman
* Muhammed Abdul Hameed Muhammed Hussain
* Nowfer Saly Jabir
* Kolamba Patabendige Tissaweera Siriwardana Jinasena
* M. G. Mendis (1911–2000), trade unionist
* Chasnyn Musafer
* Rajapakse Pathirannehelage Jayaratne Pathirana
* Minuwanpitiyage Darmasiri Dayananda Pieris
* M. J. Perera (1915–2002), broadcaster
* Seekkubaduge Wilbert Silva
* Ananda Daivin Soysa
* Rajadurai Sellaiah Thanabalasundaram
* Balaupasakage Yasodis Thudawe
* Puvaneshwari Vaithianathan

## Veera Chudamani

One individual received the Veera Chudamani honour:
* Manorani Sarawanamuttu

## Vidya Jyothi

Nine individuals received the Vidya Jyothi honour:
* Arjuna Aluwihare
* Senaka Dias Bandaranayake
* M. A. Careem
* C. B. Dissanayake
* D. P. Anura Fernando
* J. B. Peiris, physician
* V. K. Samaranayake (1939–2007), academic
* Diyanath Samarasinghe
* R. O. Barnes Wijesekera

## Kala Keerthi

Five individuals received the Kala Keerthi honour:
* Dharmasiri Jayakody
* Nalini Jayasuriya
* Premasiri Khemadasa (1937–2008), composer
* Iranganie Serasinghe (born 1927), actress
* Regi Siriwardena (1922–2004), academic

## Vidya Nidhi

Three individuals received the Vidya Nidhi honour:
* Norman Rienzie de Silva
* S. K. Sayakkara
* Prematilake Wijesekera

## Kala Suri

Nine individuals received the Kala Suri honour:
* Tissa Abeysekara (1939–2009), filmmaker
* Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (born 1949), film director
* D. V. Richard de Silva
* Parakrama Kodituwakku, poet
* Jayalath Manoratne (born 1948), dramatist
* J. S. B. Jaya Rani Perera
* S. A D. D. Samarasekera
* A. Sivanesa Selvan
* Jiffry Yoonoos

## Sri Lanka Thilaka

Sixteen individuals received the Sri Lanka Thilaka honour:
* Karunapala Aprakke
* K. Arnis
* G. Liyanage David
* U. M. Haniffa
* H. K. Hettiarachchi
* K. S. Jayasena
* W. Jayathilaka
* M. R. T. Karunaratne
* Edmund Opanayake
* S. V. P. Tikiri Panikkiya
* Kuragala Pinsara
* D. C. M. Piyatilake
* Sunil Premadasa
* G. S. B. Senanayake
* T. A. Sirisena
* Piyadasa Wickramanayake

## Veera Prathapa

Three individuals received the Veera Prathapa honour:
* O. R. A. K. Perera
* Amithapala Weerasinghe
* R. P. R. Wickramapala

## Sri Lanka Rathna

One individual received the Sri Lanka Rathna honour:
* Susumu Saegi