The Journalism Awards for Excellence 2019 and 2020 were held on Tuesday at the Colombo Hilton Hotel. The 21st and 22nd editions of the awards were held together this year as the events could not be held over the past two years owing to the COVID pandemic. The awards were organised by the Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).
Some of the winners from Wijeya Newspapers Limited
The Sunday Times winners. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year (2020-English stream): Sandun Jayawardana of the Sunday Times receives the award from Nimal Welgama, Managing Director Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Limited
Scoop of the Year (2020):
Kapila Bandara and the Sunday Times team. Samitha Bandara, sister of Kapila Bandara, receives the award on his behalf from Hana Ibrahim, member of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Best Environmental reporter of the Year (2020): Kamanthi Wickramasinghe of the Daily Mirror receives the award from Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe, member of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka
The Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year (2019): Buddhika Gayan Samaraweera of Ceylon Today receives the certificate of merit from Kumar Nadesan
Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year (2019 - Tamil stream): Mohamed Hussain Fathima Husna of the Thinakural receives the award from Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe
Business Journalist of the Year (2020 - English stream): Edirimuni Duruthu Chandrasekera of the Sunday
Times receives the award from Amali Nanayakkara, Dialog Group Chief Marketing Officer
Best Environmental reporter of the Year (2020):
Kasun Warakpitiya of the Sunday Times receives the certificate of merit from Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe
The Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the year (2020): Tharushi Weerasinghe of The Sunday Times receives the certificate of merit from Kumar Nadesan
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year (2019 English stream): Yomal Senerath Yapa of the Sunday Times receives the certificate of merit from Nimal Welgama
B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year (2019-Tamil stream): Sivalingam Sivakumaran of Virakesari Weekly receives the award from Ranjit Wijewardene
Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year (2020- Sinhala stream): Harsha Sugathadasa of the Silumina receives the award from Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe
Investigative Journalist of the Year (2019): Sandranathan Rubatheesan of the Sunday Times receives the certificate of merit from Hana Ibrahim
Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year (2020-Sinhala stream): Nilmini Illankoon of Silumina receives the award from Nimal Welgama
Prof K. Kailasapathy Award for Reporting Under Special Circumstances (2019 ): Thisari Nadeesha Athukorala of Lankadeepa receives the award from K. W. Janaranjana, Member of The Editors’ Guild
The D. R. Wijewardena Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and the Public was awarded to the late Bandula Padmakumara. He was Editor Lakbima, Chairman Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, one-time secretary of The Editors’ Guild and author.
His Award was received by Kumar Lopez, CEO SLPI, on behalf of his family from Ranjit Wijewardene, President, Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka
Lifetime Achievement award for Long and Distinguished Service to the Journalism Profession:
D. P. Wickremesinghe, the late Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe (Received by Ms Weerasinghe) Pushpa Rowel, and Upali Fonseka. The recipients are seen with Dr. P. Kesavaraj, Managing Director, Yarl Thinakural published by Asian Media Publications Limited.
The Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year (2019): Sanjeewani Samarasena of Sathi Aga Aruna receives the award from Kumar Nadesan, Chairman Sri Lanka Press Institute and Siri Ranasinghe, President Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka and Chief Editor Daily Lankadeepa
Best Designed Newspaper of the year (2020):
Asitha Ratnayake from the Sunday Times design team receives the certificate of merit from Udaya Kalupathirana, Member of the Free Media Movement
Sports Journalist of the Year (2019 - English stream) Harsha Amarasinghe of the Daily Mirror receives the award from Duminda Sampath, President, Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association
The Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year (2020): Tharindu Uduwaragedara of Anidda receives the award from Kumar Nadesan and Siri Ranasinghe
The Chairman of the PCC's Dispute Resolution Council with the Chairperson of the Panel of Judges
On the sidelines: Siri Ranasinghe, Nimal Welgama and Ranjit Wijewardene