Night of recognition
View(s):The Wijeya Newspaper Group won a total of 10 awards at the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence 2014 held on Tuesday, July 28 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The Sunday Times was among the winners at the colourful function jointly organised by the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).
Nadia Fazulhaq of the Sunday Times won the award for the Best Environmental Reporter of the Year.Former Secretary General of Parliament Nihal Seneviratne, Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Council of the Press Complaints Commission was the Chief Guest and presented the coveted Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year award to K.Sujeewa of the Ravaya newspaper.
This was the 16th edition of the industry-driven awards programme, which was first begun by the Editors’ Guild in 1999.
The programme aims at recognising and rewarding excellence in the field of journalism. Five veterans in the field – Binoy Kumar, Wickrama Surendra, Latheef Farook, Nihal Ratnaike, Saranapala Pamunuwa and S.Thillainathan were recognised and honoured with the Lifetime Achievement awards.
Sports Journalist of the Year –Merit award (English): Channaka de Silva receiving his certificate from Lasantha Ruhunage, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association
The full list of winners
Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year
K. Sanjeewa of Ravaya
Business Journalist of the Year- Sinhala
Not awarded
Merit award
Gamini Sarath Godakanda of Daily Rivira
Business Journalist of the Year- English
Shabiya Ali Ahlam of Daily FT
Business Journalist of the Year- Tamil
Robert Antony of Daily Virakesari
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of
the Year- Sinhala
Ruwan Jayawardane of Irida Divaina
Merit Award
Sugath Priyantha Kulathunga Arachchi of Deshaya/
Inoka Samarawickrama of Silumina
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of
the Year- English
Randima Attygalle of Sunday Island
Merit award
Invitees arrive at the Mount Lavinia Hotel
Sarini Shihara Maduwage of Daily Mirror
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year- Tamil
Alagan Kanagaraj of Tamil Mirror
Merit award
Poraniyapillai Pushparaju of Metro News
B.A Siriwardena Columnist of the Year- Sinhala
Wimalanath Weerathne of Ravaya
Merit award
Amarasiri Wickramaratne of Maubima (Sunday)
B.A Siriwardena Columnist of the Year- English
Not awarded
B.A Siriwardena Columnist of the Year – Tamil
Sinthuja Prasath of Daily Virakesari
Best Environmental Reporter of the Year- Sinhala
Not awarded
Best Environmental Reporter of the Year- English
Nadia Fazlulhaq of the Sunday Times
Best Environmental Reporter of the Year- Tamil
M.H. Fathima Husna of Thinakkural
Subramaniyam Chettiar Social
Development Reporter of the Year
K. Sanjeewa of Ravaya
Merit award
Joseph George Stephen of Daily Virakesari
Chamara Amarasooriya of Rivira
Camelia Nilruksha Nathaniel of the Sunday Leader
Sports Journalist of the Year- Sinhala
Not awarded
Merit award
Chamila Karawita of Divaina
Sports Journalist of the Year- English
Not awarded
Merit award
Channaka de Silva of Daily Mirror
Sports Journalist of the Year- Tamil
Not awarded
Cartoonist of the Year
Awantha Artigala of Daily Mirror
Merit award
Cartoonist of the Year –Merit award: Gihan de Chickera of Daily Mirror receives his certificate from Seetha Ranjini of the FMM
Gihan de Chickera of Daily Mirror
Namal Amarasinghe of Tamil Mirror
Photojournalist of the Year
Lalith Perera of the Sunday Leader
Merit award
Kushan Sangeeth Pathiraja of Daily Mirror
Best Designed Newspaper of the Year
Ravaya
Merit award
The Nation
Scoop of the Year
Not awarded
Merit award
Kasun Pussewela of Ravaya
Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year
Kamanthi Wickremesinghe of Daily Mirror
Prof. K. Kailasapathy award for Reporting
Under Special Circumstances
Balenthiran Piratheepan of Sunday Thinakkural
Investigative Journalist of the Year
Not awarded
Merit award
Nirmala Kannangara of the Sunday Leader
D.R. Wijewardene Award for Recognition
of Peers and Public
Victor Ivan
Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom
The Free Media Movement
Lifetime Achievement awards: From left, S. Thillainathan, Saranapala Pamunuwa, Nihal Ratnaike, Latheef Farook and Binoy Kumar. Pix by Ranjith Perera and Indika Handuwala
Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom: The Free Media Movement Convenor Seetha Ranjini receives the award on behalf of the FMM from former President of the Editors’ Guild, Manik de Silva
The organising team from the Sri Lanka Press Institute with SLPI Chairman Kumar Nadesan (third from left) and Convenor of the Journalism Awards Organising Committee Sukumar Rockwood (fifth from right)
Journalist of the Year: K. Sanjeewa of Ravaya receives the award from Chief Guest, Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Council of the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka, Nihal Seneviratne. Also in the picture is Chairman Sri Lanka Press Institute, Kumar Nadesan
A token of appreciation for the Chief Guest Nihal Seneviratne presented by Chairman SLPI Kumar Nadesan while Siri Ranasinghe, President of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka looks on
Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year: Kamanthi Wickremesinghe of Daily Mirror receives her award from Chairman SLPI, Kumar Nadesan. She receives a scholarship from the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation
D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and the Public: Victor Ivan, seen here with President of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Siri Ranasinghe
Investigative Journalist of the Year – Merit award: Nirmala Kannangara of the Sunday Leader receives her award from Sisira Paranatantrie, Treasurer of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Business Journalist of the Year: Shabiya Ali Ahlam of Daily FT receives her award from Kanchana Dassanayake, member of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year – English: Randima Attygalle of the Sunday Island receives her award from President of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka Ranjit Wijewardene
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year- Merit award: Sarini Shihara Maduwage of Daily Mirror receives her certificate from President of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka Ranjit Wijewardene
B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year- Tamil: Sinthuja Prasath of Daily Virakesari receiving her award from President of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka Ranjit Wijewardene
Environmental Reporter of the Year- Tamil: M.H. Fathima Husna of Thinakkural receiving her award from Mohanlal Piyadasa, Assistant Secretary of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Environmental Journalist of the Year: Nadia Fazlulhaq of the Sunday Times. Her sister receives the award on her behalf from Mohanlal Piyadasa, Assistant Secretary of the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Photojournalist of the Year –Merit award: Kushan Ranjith Pathiraja of the Daily Mirror receives his certificate from Lasantha Ruhunage, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.
Cartoonist of the Year: Awantha Artigala of Daily Mirror receives his award from Seetha Ranjini Convenor of the Free Media Movement.