‘Sri Lankabhimanya Award,’ the highest award that can be granted to a person once-in-a-lifetime in Sri Lanka, will be awarded to former Speaker Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya, as agreed by the Cabinet yesterday (30). A tradition since 1986, the ‘Sri Lankabhimanya Award’ is a once-in-a-lifetime national award granted to a Sri Lankan citizen, or a non-Sri Lankan citizen who has rendered an outstanding service to the nation within the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. This is considered to be the highest award granted to a person within the country. Mr. Jayasuriya will be given this award in appreciation of his service on February 03, 2023, in accordance with a step taken by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and approved by the Cabinet. MIAP