Creates history

Acclaimed filmmaker Asoka Handagama’s Sri Lankan Tamil movie ‘Ini Avan’ created history last week winning top awards including the Best Film of the year at Derana Lux Film Awards. It was the first time that a Tamil lanugage film won major awards at a Sri Lankan film festival.

Handagam won the Best Director award while the main actor Darshan Dharmaraj was adjudged the Best Actor and main actress Niranjani Shanmugaraja won the Best Actress for their roles as civilians in war ravaged Nothern Sri Lanka.

The film award also honoured country’s pioneer filmmaker Dr. Lester James Peries presenting him the Lifetime Achievement Award which was accepted by Ms. Sumitra Peries.

Meanwhile Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne’s ‘Kusa Paba’ also won some of the main awards at the film award ceremony held at Musaeus College auditorium, Colombo.