It was a special, star-studded night at the Sarasaviya Film Festival 2016 awards night which was full of music, lights and glamour at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. Organised by The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Sarasaviya, its weekly newspaper featuring cinema and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom, the specialty of this awards ceremony was that it was held after a lapse of eight years with the present ANCL management at Lake House deciding to resume it to fulfil the former glory of the awards to identify and reward the achievements of the Sri Lankan film industry and those involved in it. This film fare was much awaited by all Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema lovers as it celebrates creativity and talent.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Chief Guest. Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Karu Paranawithana, Social Empowerment and Welfare Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka and Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Kumarasinghe Sirisena were among the distinguished guests who attended the ceremony. Former Editors of the Sarasaviya were also present.
This year, the event took off without much room for emotional overdrive by the award winners and there were no speeches by the distinguished guests or even by the chief guest. The celebrities took to the stage at the gala event. There were many lovely and mesmerizing performances on stage which made the audience really live and interested. Everybody enjoyed the various artistic play, dance and music performances.
The awards were given in seven stages and 24 awards were handed out to the actors, actresses, producers, directors, music directors, makeup artistes, film editors, sound editors and vocalists. The Best Actor Award went to Jackson Anthony for his role of Elara, the King of Sri Lanka in Maharaja Gemunu, while the Best Actress was Anjali Patil, a Hindi actress for her role in Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka (With you without you).
The Best Director award was presented to Prasanna Vithanage for the film Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka, the Best Film award went to Maharaja Gemunu, Best upcoming Actor Ishara Wickremasinghe (Ira Sevaya) and best upcoming Actress Anitya Subasinghe (Ho Gaana Pokuna). The Most Popular Film award was bagged by the film Maharaja Gemunu.
It was a great night filled with fun, music and glamour for everyone and a great day of appreciation for the talented artistes in the Sri Lankan cinema Industry.
Awards and the awardees
Best Producer – Gunapala Rathnasekara (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best Director - Prasanna Vithanage (With you without you)
Best Actress - Anjalie Patil (With you without you)
Best Actor - Jackson Anthony (Maharaja Gemunu)
Special Jury Awards - Hemal Ranasinghe (Pravegaya)
Best supporting Actress – Damitha Abeyratne (Pravegaya)
Best supporting Actor – Jayalath Manoratnam (Ho gaana pokuna)
Best Cinematographer- Ruwan Costa (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best screenplay- Prasanna Vithanage (With you without you)
Best Editor- Ravindra Guruge (Maharaja Gemunu)
Dr. Lester James Peries Award- Visakesa Chandrasekaram (Frangipani)
Legendary Awards (Abhimani)- Pandit Amaradeva,Nanda Malani, Punya Heydeniya, Sumitra Peries and Lester James Peries
Lifetime Achievements (Ranathisara Awards) – Sugathapala Senerath Yapa and Sujatha Attanayake
Ranapala Bodinagoda Memorial Film Literature Award – Gamini Weragama
Best Music Director – Nadeeka Guruge (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best female singer – Nirosha Virajini (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best male singer – Edward Jayakody (Magey Yalu Malu)
Best Lyricist – Ven. Pallegama Hemaratne Thera (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best Art Director – Rohan Samaradivakaran (Maharaja Gemunu)
Best make-up artist – Jayantha Ranawaka
Best Audiographer – Aruna Priyantha (Maharaja Gemunu)
Most promising actress – Anasuya Subasinghe (Ho gaana pokuna)
Upcoming actor – Ishara Wickramasinghe (Irasevaya)
Merit Awards -Maheswari Ratnam (With you without you)
Thisakya Kumaratunge (Ho gaana pokuna)
Lal Kularatne (Suhanda Koka)
Dinesh Subasinghe (Ho gaana pokuna)
Praveen Sandeep (Address Nae)
Most Popular Movie – (Maharaja Gemunu)
Pictures by Lake House Photo Department