News

Five Senior Journalists Honored at 25th Journalism Awards for Excellence

Published

11 months ago

2025/01/12

The Journalism Awards for Excellence 2023 celebrated a momentous milestone last Tuesday (7) as it marked 25 years of recognizing excellence in print media. Held at the Empire Ballroom of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, the prestigious event honored journalists across 38 categories, spotlighting their dedication, impact, and contributions to the industry.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to five veteran journalists: Ammaiappapillai Yogamoorthy, N.M. Ameen, Chandrika Wijesundera, Bennet Rupasinghe, and Zanita Careem. The awards recognized their decades of service and unparalleled contributions to journalism in Sri Lanka.

Organized by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement, and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, the event brought together media professionals from across the nation.

Among the night’s top honors, Sulochana Ramiah Mohan of Ceylon Today was named the Mervyn De Silva Journalist of the Year. Namini Wijedasa of The Sunday Times won the awards for Investigative Journalist of the Year and Best News or Feature Using RTI (English). Kamanthi Wickramasinghe of Daily Mirror received the Subramaniam Chettiar Award for Reporting on Social Issues.

The evening also acknowledged emerging talent, with Jayakody Arachchige Senuka Thiyasara Jayakody of The Sunday Times named Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year.

Winners in categories such as health, business, sports, and environmental reporting underscored the breadth of Sri Lankan journalism. The awards also highlighted achievements in design, cartoons, and photojournalism.

Journalism Awards for Excellence 2023 Final Results Sheet

Print Media

1. Mervyn DeSilva Journalist of the Year– Single Award Winner: Sulochana Ramiah Mohan– Ceylon Today Merit: I. Robert Antony- Virakesari

2. Best Health Care & Medical Reporter of the year– Sinhala Winner: Illankoon Arachchilage Sureka Nilmini Illankoon- Silumina Merit: No merit

3. Best Health Care & Medical Reporter of the year– Tamil Winner: Muththu Marikkar Mohammed Marlin- Thinakaran Merit: Mohammed Hussain Fathima Husna- Thinakkural

4. Best Health Care & Medical Reporter of the year– English Winner: Nadia Fazlulhaq– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

5. Sports Journalists of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Fawz Mohomed- Silumina Merit: No merit

6. Sports Journalists of the Year– Tamil Winner: SM.S. Mohamed Firdous- Thinakaran Merit: No merit

7. Sports Journalists of the Year– English Winner: No submission Merit: No submission

8. Business & Finance Journalist of the Year– Sinhala Winner: No winner Merit- Kotudurage Rasika Nilantha- Silumina

9. Business & Finance Journalist of the Year– Tamil Winner: Anantha Ganesha Sarma Swaminathan- Virakesari Merit: NO MERIT

10.Business & Finance Journalist of the Year– English Winner: Madhusha Thavapalakumar– The Sunday Morning Merit: No merit

11.Prof. Kailasapathy Award for Best News or Feature using RTI– Sinhala Winner: Mithun Jayawardhana- Mawbima Merit: No merit

12. Prof. Kailasapathy Award for Best News or Feature using RTI– Tamil Winner: Karuppaiya Prasannakumar- Thinakkural Merit:– S. Sivakumaran- Virakesari and A.A.M. Rifthi Ali- Thamilan

13. Prof. Kailasapathy Award for Best News or Feature using RTI– English Winner: Namini Nimilamalee Wijedasa– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

14.B. A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Shirley Anil De Silva– Lankadeepa Daily Merit: No merit

15. B. A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year– Tamil Winner: S. Sivakumaran- Virakesari Merit: No merit

16. B. A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year– English Winner: No submission Merit: No submission

17.Subramaniam Chettiar Award for Reporting on Social Issues– Single Award Winner: Kamanthi Wickramasinghe– Daily Mirror Merit: R. Ramkumar- Virakesari and Illeperuma Arachchige Don Nadira Kumari Gunatilleke– Daily News

18.Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Harsha Sugathadasa– Divaina Sunday Merit: No merit

19. Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year– Tamil Winner: Hassthani Radhakrishnan- Virakesari Merit: Kamil Asmy Mohamed Shabeer- Vidivelli and R. Ramkumar Virakesari

20. Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year– English Winner: Tharushi Weerasinghe– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

21.Investigative Journalist of the Year– Single Award Winner: Namini Nimilamalee Wijedasa– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

22.Scoop of the Year– Single Award Winner: No award Merit: No award

23.Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year– Single Award Winner: Jayakody Arachchige Senuka Thiyasara Jayakody– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

24.Best Environmental Reporter of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Kanahara Arachchige Jagath Kumara Kanahara- Arachchi Merit: No merit

25. Best Environmental Reporter of the Year– Tamil Winner: R. Ramkumar- Virakesari Merit: No merit

26. Best Environmental Reporter of the Year– English Winner: Kasun Chethana Gamage Warakapitiya– The Sunday Times Merit: No merit

27.Best Designed Newspaper of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Deshaya Merit: NO MERIT

28. Best Designed Newspaper of the Year– Tamil Winner: No winner JMerit: Virakesari weekly and Thinakkural

29. Best Designed Newspaper of the Year– English Winner: Asitha Rathnayake- SUNDAY TIMES Merit: No merit

30. Cartoonist of the Year– Sinhala Winner: Awantha Artigala– Sunday Lankedeepa Merit: No merit

31. Cartoonist of the Year– Tamil Winner: Namal Amarasinghe– Tamil Mirror Merit: No merit

32. Cartoonist of the Year– English Winner: Awantha Artigala– Daily Mirror Merit: No merit

33.Photojournalist of the Year:- Single Award Winner: Kankanam Pathirana Pradeep– Daily Mirror Merit: Saman Kumara Abesiriwardana– Sathi Aga Aruna

Online Newspapers

34.Best Designed News Website– Sinhala Winner: lankadeepa.lk Merit: NO MERIT

35. Best Designed News Website– Tamil Winner: virakesari.lk Merit: thamilan.lk and tamilmirror.lk

36. Best Designed News Website– English Winner: ft.lk Merit: dailymirror.lk and themorning.lk

37. Best Video Story-telling– Sinhala Winner: NO AWARD Merit: NO MERIT

38. Best Video Story-telling– Tamil Winner: VIRAKESARI DIGITAL Merit: LOGESWARAN SELVARAJA- Virakesari and LUCIAS- Virakesari

39. Best Video Story-telling– English Winner: G.M. LAHIRU CHAMARA DOLOSWALA Merit: NO MERIT

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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended

Published

11 hours ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

News

“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:

“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.

Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.

This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.

The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka

Published

12 hours ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)

The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”

The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)

The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.