“J Awards” celebrates 10th Anniversary
By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
One of the transparent banners at the event
The Journalism Awards for Excellence is called “J Awards” by the journalists. It celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The Annual Journalism Awards for Excellence 2008 was held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel n July 14th2009. The event was organized by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI). It was a night of honour and celebration for the scribes. Glittering awards night was held on July 14th 2009 at Mount Lavinia Hotel. The event was attended by a large number of journalists.
The panel of judges for Journalism Awards for Excellence 2008 were Professor Tissa Kariyawasam, Amal Jayasinghe, Mrs. Vijita Fernnado, Mr.P.Balasingham, Mr.Sarath Cooray, Mr.K.S.Sivakumaran, Mrs.Annaluxmi Rajadurai, Mr.Latheef Farook, Mr.Ratnasiri Arangala, Mr.Promod de Silva, and Professor Sunanda Madduma Bandara.
Traditional drums are being played at the beginning of the ceremony to welcome the guests
The National Anthem is being played
Performance by Revelation
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Anula de Silva, Louis Benedict, Pararajasingham Balasingham, Thalangama Jayasinha and S.Shanmugarajah. These five veteran journalists were presented with Gold medals, and honoured with fresh flower garlands and Golden shawls
Indian political and social activist Aruna Roy, graces the ceremony as the Chief Guest
Best Designed Newspaper of the Year-Sunday Times
Best Cartoonist of the Year-Vasantha Siriwardena of The Nation
Best Photographer of the Year- Dinuka Liyanawatte of the Daily Mirror receives his award from Chulawansa Srilal, the Convener of Free Media Movement
Photojournalists covering the ceremony
Best Sports Journalist of the Year-Channaka de Silva of the Daily Mirror receives his award from Chulawansa Srilal, the Convener of Free Media Movement
“Wind”- Flute performance
“Fire”- drums and guitar performance
Best Environmnetal Journalist of the Year- Nimashi Amaleeth of The Nation
Upali Wijewardena Feature Write of the Year-Sinhala- Mrs.Sanda Lalith Ranasinghe of Silumina receives here awrad from Ranjit Wijewardene, Chairman of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka
Guests at the “J Awards”
Upali Wijewardena Feature Write of the Year-Tamil- Niranjani Roland of Metro News receives here award from Ranjit Wijewardene, Chairman of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka
Another banner on display at the venue
Upali Wijewardena Feature Write of the Year-English-Randima Attygalle of The Nation receives her award from Ranjit Wijewardene, Chairman of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka
Subramaniam Chettiar Award for Social Responsible Reporting was awarded to K.Ponmalar of Metro News by the Co-Chairman , Joint Organising Committee of the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2008 Kumar Nadesan
Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year- Isuri Kaviratne of the Sunday Times
Sirasa/MTV reporter Rashmi Maharoof was killed in October 2008, while covering an event in Anuradhapura. His wife receives D.R.Wijewardene Award for earning the appreciation of peers and public from the Chief Editor of young Asia Television Sharmini Boyle
Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom in Sri Lanka was awarded to Uthayan Newspaper& its staff. The newspaper is published in Jaffna. The award was presented to its Editor N. Vithyatharan by the Editor of Lakbima Jatila Wellaboda
Investigative Journalist of the year-Dr. Prasanna Cooray
Business Journalist of the year-English-Bandula Sirimanna of The Sunday Times was presented by the Co-Chairman , Joint Organising Committee of the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2008 Kumar Nadesan
B.A.Siriwardena Columnist of the year-English- Mrs.Nanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundere of the Sunday Island
B.A.Siriwardena Columnist of the year-Tamil- Balasubramaniam Kirubaharan of Thinakkural
Cultural event adds colour to the ceremony
The Chief Guest Aruna Roy presents the merit certificate to Janyitha Seneviratne of the Sunday Divaina (Sinhala Language)
Video journalists covering the event
The Chief Guest Aruna Roy presents the merit certificate to Charles Peter of Metro News (Tamil Language)
The Chief Guest Aruna Roy presents the merit certificate to Christopher Kamalendran of The Sunday Times (English Language)
A token of appreciation was presented to the Chief Guest Aruna Roy by the Co-Chairman , Joint Organising Committee of the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2008 Kumar Nadesan
Another view of guests
Swan carved in ice, which is displayed at the dessert corner of the Mount Lavinia Hotel
Winners
Lifetime Achievement Awards-Anula de Silva, Louis Benedict, Pararajasingham Balasingham, Thalangama Jayasinha and S.Shanmugarajah.
Best Designed Newspaper of the Year-Sunday Times
Merit Awards-Daily Mirror/ Ravaya
Best Cartoonist of the Year-Vasantha Siriwardena of The Nation
Best Photographer of the Year-Dinuka Liyanawatte of the Daily Mirror
Merit award-Nishan S.Priyantha
Best Sports Journalist of the Year-Channaka de Silva of the Daily Mirror
Best Environmnetal Journalist of the Year-Nimashi Amaleeth of The Nation
Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year-Sinhala-Mrs.Sanda Lalith Ranasinghe of Silumina
Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year-Tamil-Niranjani Roland of Metro News
Upali Wijewardena Feature Writer of the Year-English-Randima Attygalle of The Nation
Merit Award-Chamitha Kuruppu of Lakbimanews
Subramaniam Chettiar Award for Social Responsible Reporting was awarded to K.Ponmalar of Metro News
Merit Award-Asntha Sivumini Edirisooriya of Sunday Lankadeepa
Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year-Isuri Kaviratne of the Sunday Times
D.R.Wijewardene Award for earning the appreciation of peers and public-Late Rashmi Maharoof of Sirasa TV
Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom in Sri Lanka was awarded to Uthayan Newspaper& its staff
Business Journalist of the year-Sinhala-Shyam Nuwan Ganewatte of Sunday Divaina
Business Journalist of the year-Tamil-Niranjani Roland of Metro News
Business Journalist of the year-English-Bandula Sirimanna of The Sunday Times
B.A.Siriwardena Columnist of the year-Sinhala-Not Awarded
B.A.Siriwardena Columnist of the year-Tamil-Balasubramaniam Kirubaharan of Thinakkural
B.A.Siriwardena Columnist of the year-English-Mrs.Nanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundere of the Sunday Island
Scoop of the year-Not Awarded
Professor K.Kailasapathy Award for Reporting under Special Circumstances-Not Awarded
Investigative Journalist of the year-Dr. Prasanna Cooray
Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the year 2008
Winner-Not Awarded
Merit Award-Janyitha Seneviratne of the Sunday Divaina (Sinhala Language)
Charles Peter of Metro News (Tamil Language)
Christopher Kamalendran of The Sunday Times (English Language)
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