Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha
The Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha or the Order of Thiri Thudhamma (Burmese: သီရိသုဓမ္မာသင်္ဂဟ; lit. the Most Glorious Order of Truth) was the highest Burmese commendation during the AFPFL era.[1] In that day, Burmese orders could be also used as titles. Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha was founded on 2 September 1948. It is awarded in three classes:
- Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma – Grand Commander
- Sado Thiri Thudhamma – Grand Officer
- Maha Thiri Thudhamma – Companion
The first class consisted of a gold braided salwe worn over the right shoulder and across the breast with two badges of the order appended in the front, and also a large gold enamelled breast star. The second class consisted a single, breast star similar to the first class but smaller. Third class was a badge, worn from a ribbon around the neck. Generally speaking, the first class was conferred to the Head of State of the Union of Burma (1948–1962) and the Heads of State and Heads of Governments from other countries.
Some recipients of the Order are:
- Sao Shwe Thaik, First President of Burma – Grand Commander
- Louis Mountbatten – Grand Commander 1956[2]
- Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia – Grand Commander 1958[3]
- Zhou En Lai, First Premier of PRC, China – Grand Commander
- Marshal Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav President – Grand Commander
- U Ba U, Second President of Burma – Grand Commander
- U Win Maung, Third President of Burma – Grand Commander
- Thein Sein, Eighth and current President of Burma – Grand Commander
- Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand – Grand Commander 1960
- Norodom Suramarit, King of Cambodia – Grand Commander
- Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia – Grand Commander 1954