Mysuru:  Madhavananda Dasa, Chairman and Founder of Bhaktivedanta Academy for Spiritual Education, has been awarded the prestigious award of ‘Deshabandhu’ at an illustrious event at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Madhavananda Dasa has been conferred the award in recognition of his relentless work in the field of Spiritual and Religious Education across India, Sri Lanka, South East Asia and various parts of the world. 

Deshabandu is the third highest national honour awarded in Sri Lanka. It is awarded to distinguished individuals and well-wishers for meritorious and exceptional contribution to the country’s advancement in various fields.

It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee’s name. It is the equivalent of Padma Shri in India. 

Madhavananda Dasa has personally led over forty Ramayana Research and Spiritual Yatras to Sri Lanka with over one thousand participants since 2010. He has also been leading many spiritual rejuvenation programmes based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita that have benefited tens of thousands of people to find solace, contentment, peace and enlightenment since over two decades.

The Ceremony was presided by the President of National Peace Association, Dr. Ranandara Jayawardana and other eminent personalities.