Deshabandu Title Awarded to Ahamed Rizvi Mohamed Rifkhan

Deshabandu is the third highest national honour awarded in Sri Lanka. 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.

Deshabandu Ahamed Rizvi Mohamed Rifkhan, (born 17 November 1988 is a Sri Lankan businessman and social entrepreneur. As the founder and chairman of the iDealz Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the largest mobile and accessories store in Sri Lanka, Rifkhan has engaged several social activities, speaking at forums, conducting training, and won several international awards.

He was born on 17 November 1988 in Colombo 12, Sri Lanka as the eldest of three siblings: two brothers and one sister. His father Ahamed Rizvi is a farm shop owner and his mother, Sameena Fariha, is a housewife. He was educated at Hameed Al Husseinie College, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Then he completed his Higher National Diploma in Computer Science at the British College of Applied Studies (BCAS) Sri Lanka. Later in 2008, he moved to the United Kingdom and graduated from Middlesex University with a degree in Computer Software Engineering. In September 2020, he obtained his post graduate degree from American National Business University, USA.

After return to Sri Lanka in 2012, Rifkhan initiated operations as a home-based mobile reseller in Sri Lanka, working with a limited set of clientele. Then he started to leverage Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in Sri Lanka and induce digital marketing growth. He is the Founder and Chairman of iDealz Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., the Most Awarded Mobile Reseller in Sri Lanka. He founded the company in 2012, and later expand the brand over the years, with the partnership with leading brands such as Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Singer, Softlogic and John Keells Holdings.

Meanwhile, in 2018, he has awarded the honorary title 'Deshabandu', the third-highest Sri Lankan national honor for his service in business field. In 2015, he was adjudged with the Best Retail Partner Award at the inaugural Huawei-Singer Retail Partner Awards. During the event, Rifkhan also won the 'Grand Prize Winner' award for the highest number of sales during the period March and April.

Then in 2018, he was honored with 'Deshakeerthi, for contributions to the growth of the Nation presented by the Council of Justice (of) Peace Worldwide, Sri Lanka. In the same year, Rifkhan was awarded 'Sri Lanka Young Businessman of The Year 2018' by the Business World International Awards (BWIO USA), the highest honors within the Asia Pacific region, for his successful venture as an entrepreneur. In September 2018, he opened iDealz Lanka outlet at the Marino Mall, Colombo 03, becoming the first-ever mobile outlet opened at the Marino Mall.

In 2019, he won the Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Award given by the Lanka Achievers Foundation for the several milestones achieved by his company in the technology industry in Sri Lanka. In December 2020, he was awarded 'Mahindra iE20' prize during the Samsung Sri Lanka Price Giving ceremony