Cheers from your peers

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 closelyguarded 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.

Journalism Awards 2017- Winners

Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year-Winner Merit awards

Scoop of the Year

Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year – Sinhala Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year – Tamil Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year – English Sports Journalist of the Year – Sinhala

Sports Journalist of the Year – Tamil

Sports Journalist of the Year – English

Business Journalist of the Year – Sinhala

Business Journalist of the Year – Tamil

Business Journalist of the Year – English

Prof. K. Kailasapathy Award for Reporting under Special Circumstances

Merit awards

B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year – Tamil -Winner

Merit award

Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year – Sinhala- Winner

Merit award

Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year – Tamil- Winner

Merit award

Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year – English- Winner Investigative Journalist of the Year

Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year- Winner Merit awards

Best Environmental Reporter of the Year – Sinhala Best Environmental Reporter of the Year – Tamil Best Environmental Reporter of the Year – English Best Designed Newspaper of the Year

Merit award

Cartoonist of the Year – Sinhala

Cartoonist of the Year – Tamil

Cartoonist of the Year – English

Photojournalist of the Year- Winner

Merit awards

Subramaniyam Chettiar Social Development

Reporter of the Year - Winners

Merit award

Best Designed News Website – Sinhala

Merit award

Best Designed News Website – Tamil

Merit award

Best Designed News Website – English

Merit award

D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and the Public

Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom in Sri Lanka Special Award – posthumously awarded to : K. Sanjeewa of the Ravaya

: Wisu Karrunanidhi of the Thinakkaran : Chandani Kirinde of the Sunday Times

: The Sunday Times

: Palitha Jayakody of the Rivira Daily

: Dr. Sivapalan Sivansuthan of Valamburi : Punnami Amarasinghe of the Daily Mirror : Roshan Wijerathne of Ada

: S. Jithendra Presath of Virakesari Daily : Champika Fernando of the Sunday Times : Dulika Samanmali of Lakbima Weekly : Suthanthiranathan Anuthinan of Tamil Mirror : No entries

: Not awarded

: Chamara Madushanka of Mawbima

: M.C. Najimudeen of Virakesari Daily

: Jeeva Sathasivam of Virakesari Daily : Kanagalingam Gopikrishna of Tamil Mirror : Tharanga Rathnaweera of Divaina Weekly : Sugath Kulathunga Arachchi of Deshaya

: I. Robert Anthony of Virakesari Daily : Shanmuganathan Parthiban of Sudar Oli : Sanuj Srimal Hathurusinghe of Ceylon Today : Mihiran Karunarathne of Lakbima Weekly

: Thevarajah Virooshan of Virakesari Weekly

: Tharindu Amila Uduwaragedera of Ravaya

: Fathima Amara Ismail of Daily Mirror

: Dhammika Sapumal Jayasena of Mawbima Daily : Mohamed Ali Sabry Aadhil Ahmed of Navamani

: Dr. Prasanna Cooray of the Island

: Design Team of the Sunday Times

: Ravaya

: Munasinghage Don Weeraratne of Mawbima

: Sawunthis Tharmathas of Virakesari Weekly

: Jeffrey Kelaart of the Island

: Jeyakumar Sujeewakumar of Daily and Weekend Express : Sampath Priyantha of Lakbima Daily

: Mohamed Saly Saleem of Virakesari

: Sampath Jayalal of Lankadeepa Weekly

Sulochana Ramiah Mohan of Ceylon Today

: Karuppiah Prasanna Kumar of Thinakkural

: Deshaya

: Dinamina

: Thinakaran

: Thinakkural

: Daily Mirror

: Daily News

: K.W. Janaranjana

: Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association : Jatila Wellaboda

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.

Pix by Ranjith Perera and Priyantha Wickramaarachchi 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.

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)

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

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.

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.

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

The Sri Lanka Press Institute Team: Second from right is Convenor of the Journalism Awards organising committee Sukumar Rockwood

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Left to right: Cyril Wimalasurendre, A.S. Fernando, Merrill Perera, Sinniah Kanesan and A.L.M. Saleem

A dance item from the Aru Sri Theatre group

Best Health Care and Medical Reporter of the Year: Punnami Amarasinghe of the Daily Mirror receives her award from Member of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe

Sports Journalist of the Year – Sinhala: Roshan Pethum Sri Wijerathne of Ada receives his award from President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Lasantha Ruhunage

Award winners and invitees at the awards night

Lifetime Achievement Award: A.S. Fernando receives the Traditional Golden Shawl from Managing Director of Yarl Thinakural, Dr. P. Kesavaraj

Lifetime Achievement Award: Merrill Perera receives his award from former President of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Siri Ranasinghe

B. A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year : Jeeva Sathasivam of Virakesari Daily receives her award from President of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka Ranjit Wijewardene

Business Journalist of the Year – Sinhala: Dulika Sammanmali of Lakbima Weekly receives the award from Treasurer, The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Sisira Paranatantrie

Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year- Merit award: Fathima Amra Ismail of Daily Mirror receives her award from Chairman, SLPI, Kumar Nadesan