Cheers from your peers
Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year: K. Sanjeewa of Ravaya receives the award from Chief Guest Suganthie Kadirgamar of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation, which has provided scholarships to young journalists, as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute Kumar Nadesan and President of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Manik de Silva look on.
It was a night of celebration when journalists from different media houses came together to honour their peers who had done outstanding work in the past year. The annual awards night organised by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) was held in the elegant setting of the Empire Ballroom of the Mount Lavinia Hotel on Tuesday, July 31. Now in its 19th year, it is a rare opportunity for the scribes to get-together and enjoy a convivial evening with fellowship and entertainment away from the headlines and deadlines.
After the customary lighting of the oil lamp, there was excitement and anticipation as the packed hall awaited the results which remain a closely-guarded secret until the moment of announcement. Amidst the fanfare, K. Sanjeewa of Ravaya carried away the prestigious ‘Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2017’ award with Chandani Kirinde, Asst. Editor of the Sunday Times and Wisu Karrunanidhi of Thinakkaran receiving the merit awards in this category.
There were other awards for the Sunday Times that night: The Sunday Times News Desk won the award for ‘Scoop of the Year’ and Champika Fernando, Sports Editor of the Sunday Times the Sports Journalist of the Year award. The Sunday Times was also once again recognised as the Best Designed Newspaper- an award it has consistently won.
In recognition of their sterling work and dedicated service over the years, five veteran newspapermen were honoured with ‘Lifetime Achievement Awards’. They are: A.L.M. Saleem, A.S. Fernando, Cyril Wimalasurendre, Merrill Perera and Sinniah Kanesan.
Suganthi Kadirgamar, wife of the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was the chief guest at the ceremony which was also attended by diplomats, journalists and friends of the media.
The panel of judges for the awards comprised both senior journalists and academics: Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara, Amal Jayasinghe, Lakshman Gunasekera, Asoka Goonetilleke, Sarath Raveendre Prematilleke, Lakshman Wickramasinghe, Ariya Rubasinghe, A.S. Chandrabose, Dr. S. Raguram and Furkhan Bee Ifthikar. In their report, the judges complimented The Editors’ Guild and the SLPI for their sustained role in nurturing the qualitative development of journalism in this country and said they are making a set of technical recommendations to the Editors’ Guild for the improvement of the Awards system.
The panel of judges for the Best Designed News Website Award which was won by the Dinamina, Thinakaran and Daily Mirror in the three language categories comprised; Kanishka Sugathadasa, Shanaka Rajapaksha, Lasitha Devendra and Shihar Aneez.
Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year- Merit award: Chandani Kirinde of the Sunday Times receives the award from chief guest Suganthie Kadirgamar. Also in the picture is Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute Kumar Nadesan
Sports Journalist of the Year: Champika Fernando of the Sunday Times receives his award from President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Lasantha Ruhunage
Best Designed Newspaper of the Year: The Sunday Times - Asitha Ratnayake of the the Sunday Times Design Team receives the award from Convener of the Free Media Movement C. Dodawatte
Scoop of the Year: The Sunday Times News Desk: Anthony David, Deputy Editor (News) of the Sunday Times receives the award from Director of the Sri Lanka College of Journalism Hana Ibrahim, for the newspaper’s reportage of a proposal by the President to the Cabinet to purchase a Russian patrol craft for the Navy at a cost of Rs 20. 6 billion.
Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year- Merit award: Wisu Karunanidhi of the Thinakkaran receives the award from Suganthie Kadirgamar as Chairman of the SLPI Kumar Nadesan and President of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Manik de Silva look on.
Winners from the Wijeya Group pose for a picture: Left to right -Sunil Jayasiri, Fathima Ismail, Punnami Amarasinghe (Daily Mirror), Asitha Ratnayake, Anthony David, Champika Fernando (the Sunday Times), Pathum Sri Wijeratne (Ada) and Chandani Kirinde (the Sunday Times)
Well done: The Sunday Times design team- (Left to right): Anusha de Silva, Janaka Munasinghe, Asitha Ratnayake, Aruna Wickramaarachchi (WNL Design AGM), Rasika Ranga and Dimuthu Samarasinghe. Pix by Ranjith Perera and Priyantha Wickramaarachchi