Presidential Film Awards

Presidential Film Awards
Current: 19th Presidential Film Awards
Description	Excellence in Cinematic Achievements
Country	Sri Lanka
Presented by	Current President of Sri Lanka
First awarded	1979
Last awarded	26 July 2019 (2019-07-26)
Website	http://www.nfc.gov.lk/presidentioal_awards.php

Presidential Film Awards is a film award ceremony held in Sri Lanka. It is organized by the National Film Corporation along with the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. It was 1st awards in 1979 by President J. R. Jayewardene, and continue till 2004. The awards were not held from 2005 to 2014 when Mahinda Rajapakse was president. The award started to be presented again in 2015 by President Maithripala Sirisena.

President awarding J. R. Jayewardene

1979 Winners

• Best Film Bambaru Avith - Thilak Godamanna
• Best Direction Bambaru Avith - Dharmasena Pathiraja, Ahasin Polawata - Lester James Peries
• Best Actor Ahasin Polawata - Tony Ranasinghe
• Best Actress Bambaru Avith - Malani Fonseka
• Best Script Writer Ahasin Polawata - Tissa Abeysekara
• Best Cinematographer Ahasin Polawata - Donald Karunarathna
• Best Editor Ahasin Polawata - Sumithra Peris
• Best Music Director Bambaru Avith - Premasiri Kemadasa
• Best Art Director Weera Puran Appu - Hemapala Dharmasena
• Best Sound Director Weera Puran Appu - Mical Sathyanadan
• Best Supporting Actor Weera Puran Appu - Tissa Abeysekara
• Best Supporting Actress Sasara - Shanthi Leka
• Best Lyrics Writer Bambaru Avith - W. Jayasiri ( "Udumbara Hinehenawa" - "Adaraye Oba Obamai" )
• Best Playback Singer Male Janaka Saha Manju - T.M. Jayarathna ( " Ko Ma Pethu Obe Adare" )
• Best Playback Singer Female Ahasin Polawata - Rukmani Devi ( "Doi Doi" )
• Merit Awards Bambaru Avith - Ruby De Mel, Bambaru Avith - Siril Wickramage, Gehenu Lamai - Shyama Anandan, Gehenu Lamai - M.S. Anandan, Gehenu Lamai - Chithra Wakishta, Bambaru Avith - Dharmasena Pathiraja, Janaka Saha Manju - Upali Aththanayaka, Ahasin Polawata - Relex Ranasingha, Hitha Mithura - Sriyani Amarasena, Ghenu Lamai - Wasanthi Chathurani, Gehenu Lamai - Victor Rathnayaka, Bambaru Avith - Sextas Aponsu, Bambaru Evith - Joy Abeywickrama

1980 Winners

• Best Film Palagetiyo - Wasantha Obeysekara
• Best Direction Palagetiyo - Wasantha Obeysekara
• Best Actor Sarungale - Gamini Fonseka
• Best Actress Wasanthaye Dawasak - Malani Fonseka
• Best Script Writer Palagetiyo - Wasantha Ubeysekara
• Best Cinematographer Wasanthaye Dawasak - Sumiththa Amarasingha
• Best Editor Podi Malli - Jayathissa Dillimuni
• Best Music Director Wasanthaye Dawasak - Premasiri Kemadasa
• Best Art Director Wasanthaye Dawasak - Hemapala Dharmasena
• Best Sound Director Palagetiyo - Jorge Manathunge
• Best Supporting Actor Wasanthaye Dawasak - Joe Abeywickrama
• Best Supporting Actress Wasanthaye Dawasak - Somalatha Subasinghe
• Best Lyrics Writer Wasanthaye Dawasak - "Dedunnen Ena" - Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Best Playback Singer Male Wasanthaye Dawasak - "Mala Gira" - T.M. Jayarathna
• Best Playback Singer Female Monarathenna - "Handa Haaun Hande" - Nanda Malini
• Special Jury Award Handaya - Titus Thotawatte

Merit Awards Palagetiyo - Andru Jayamanna (Cinematographer), Palagetiyo - Denawaka Hamine (Acting), Palagetiyo - Vijaya Kumarathunga (Acting), Palagetiyo - Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (Acting), Sarungale - Fareena Lai (Acting), Sarungale - Wimal Kumara de Costa (Acting), Sarungale - Sriyani Amarasena (Acting), Podi Malli - Ravindre Randeniya (Acting),

1981 Winners

• Best Film Gaga Addara - Milina Sumathipala , Siribo Aiya - Ranjith Palansooriya / Layanal Yasarathna / Dharmpriya Jinadasa
• Best Direction Gaga Addara - Sumithra Peris , Siribo Aiya - Sunil Ariyarathna
• Best Actor Siribo Aiya - Joe Abeywickrama
• Best Actress Gaga Addara - Wasanthi Chathurani
• Best Script Writer Gaga Addara - Tissa Abeysekara
• Best Cinematographer Gaga Addara - Donald Karunarathna (color) , Hansa Vilak - Andru Jayamanna (Black & White)
• Best Editor Gaga Addara - Sumithra Peris
• Best Music Director Siribo Aiya - Victor Rathnayaka
• Best Art Director Gaga Addara - Hemapala Dharmasena
• Best Sound Director Hansa Vilak - Layanal Gunarathna
• Best Makeup Artist Parithyaga - Ebert Wijesingha
• Best Supporting Actor Uthumaneni - Somi Rathnayaka
• Best Supporting Actress Raththaththin Raththame - Geetha Kumarasingha
• Best Lyrics Writer Gaga Addara - "Gaga Addara Ma" / "Ran Tikiri Sina" - Ogastus Vinayagarathnam
• Best Playback Singer Male Siribo Aiya - "Kavi" - W.D. Amaradewa
• Best Playback Singer Female Siribo Aiya - "Kavi" - Nanda Malani
• Merit Awards Karumakkarayo - Upali Athtanayaka , Hansa Vilak - Dharmasiri Bandaranayaka , Hansa Vilak - Suwarna Mallawarachchi , Siribo Aiya - Somasiri Denipitiya , Uthumaneni - Farina Lai , Maurige Kathawa - Veena Jayakodi , Parithyaga - Amarasiri Kalansooriya , Gaga Addara - Toni Ranasingha

1982 Winners

• Best Film Beddegama - Vilfred Perera
• Best Direction Soldau Unnehe - Dharmasena Pathiraja
• Best Actor Beddegama - Joe Abeywickrama
• Best Actress Aradana - Malani Fonseka
• Best Script Writer Soldau Unnehe - Dharmasena Pathiraja / W. Jayasiri
• Best Cinematographer Aradana - Sumiththa Amarasingha (Color) , Soldau Unnehe - Jayanath Gunawardana ( Black & White)
• Best Editor Beddegama - Gladvin Fernando
• Best Music Director Soldau Unnehe - Premasiri Kemadasa
• Best Art Director Thawalama - Hemapala Dharmasena
• Best Sound Director Sathara Pera Nimithi - K. Balasubramaniyam
• Best Makeup Artist Beddegama - Ebert Wijesinghe
• Best Supporting Actor Beddegama - Henri Jayasena
• Best Supporting Actress Beddegama - Nadeeka Gunasekara
• Best Lyrics Writer Baduru Mal - " Bawen Bawe Yana Gamane " - Pof. Sunil Ariyarathna
• Best Playback Singer Male Sathara Pera Nimithi - "Buddan Saranan Gachchami" - T.M. Jayarathna
• Best Playback Singer Female Sathara Pera Nimithi - "Gee Pothe Gee Thanu Visiri" - Nanda Malani
• Swarna Singhe Awards Sir Lester Jems Peris
• Merit Awards Sathara Pera Nimithi - Pof. Sunil Ariyarathna (Lyrics) , Beddegama - Vili Blake (Cinematographer) , Sathara Diganthaya - Vimal Kumara De Costha (Acting) , Badura Mal - Veena Jayakodi (Acting) , Badura Mal - Dharma Sri Munasinghe (Acting) , Thawalama - Farina Lai (Acting) , Beddegama - Tony Ranasinghe (Acting) , Sathweni Dawasa - Ravindra Ranasinghe (Acting) , Sagarayak Meda - Irangani Serasingha (Acting) , Anjana - Freddie Silva (Acting)

1983 Winners

• Best Film Maha Gedara - Chandrasiri Ganegoda
• Best Direction Yahalu Yeheli - Sumithra Peris
• Best Actor Malata Noena Bambaru - Joe Abeywickrama
• Best Actress Re Manamali - Veena Jayakodi
• Best Script Writer Maha Gedara - Tissa Abeysekara
• Best Cinematographer Yahalu Yeheli - Donald Karunarathna (Color), Malata Noena Bambaru - Donald Karunarathna (Black & white)
• Best Editor Malata Noena Bambaru - Lal Piyasena
• Best Music Director Yahalu Yeheli - Nimal Mendis
• Best Art Director Yahalu Yeheli - Hemapala Thale
• Best Sound Director Malata Noena Bambaru - Mical Sathyanadan
• Best Makeup Artist Kele Mal - Deric Frenando
• Best Supporting Actor Adishtana - J.H. Jayawardana
• Best Supporting Actress Maha Gedara - Geetha Kumarasinghe
• Best Lyrics Writer Redi Nimnaya - "Sulaga Waga Evidin" - Bandara K Wijethunge
• Best Playback Singer Male Adishtana - Sunil Edirisinghe
• Best Playback Singer Female Yasa Isuru - "Ammawarune" - Nanda Malani
• Merit Awards Maha Gedara - Tissa Abeysekara (Acting), Maha Gedara - Sriyani Amarasena (Acting), Maha Gedara - Dhamma Jaagoda (Acting), Biththi Hatara - Neel Alas (Acting), Yahalu Yeheli - Nadeeka Gunasekara (Acting), Maha Gedara - Tissa Abeysekara (Acting), Redi Nimnaya - Suwarna Mallawarachchi (Acting), Redi Nimnaya - Shanthi Leka (Acting), Paramitha - Tony Ranasinghe (Acting), Paramitha - Ravindre Randeniya (Acting), Kele Mal - Wijerathna Warakagoda (Acting),

1984 Winners

• Best Film Dadayama - Rabin Chandrasiri / Sunil Chandrasiri / P.A. Somapala
• Best Direction Dadayama - Wasntha Obeysekara
• Best Actor Dadayama - Ravindra Randeniya
• Best Actress Dadayama - Suwarna Mallawarachchi
• Best Script Writer Dadayama - Wasntha Obeysekara / Krishti Shelton Prenando / K.L.De Silva
• Best Cinematographer Dadayama - Donald Karunarathna (Color), Thunweni Yamaya - Andrew Jayamanna (Black & White)
• Best Editor Dadayama - Stanly De Alwis
• Best Music Director Muhudu Lihini - H.M. Jayawardana
• Best Art Director Kaliyugaya - Eral Keli
• Best Sound Director Dadayama - K.P.K Balasingham
• Best Makeup Artist Muhudu Lihini - Ranjith Mathakaweera
• Best Supporting Actor Dadayama - Somi Rathnayaka
• Best Supporting Actress Kaliyugaya - Trileeshiya Gunawardana
• Best Lyrics Writer Muhudu Lihini - "Sithija Ime Sidu Gembure" - Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Best Playback Singer Male Muhudu Lihini - "Sithija Ime Sidu Gembure" - W.D. Amaradewa
• Best Playback Singer Female Siuraga Sena - "Wessa Wete Midule" - Nanda Malani
• Swarna Singhe Awards K.A.W. Perera
• Merit Awards Muhudu Lihini - Aruna Shanthi (Acting), Muhudu Lihini - Anoja Weerasingha (Acting), Muhudu Lihini - Robin Fernando (Acting), Muhudu Lihini - D.B. Nihalsingha (Cinematographer-Color), Dadayama - Rathnawali Kekunawela (Acting), Dadayama - Irangani Serasinghe (Acting), Thunweni Yamaya - Wasantha Kotuwella (Acting), Thunweni Yamaya - Indira Johanclass (Acting), Pasamithuro - Alexsender Fernando (Acting), Pasamithuro - Alexsender Fernando (Acting), Pasamithuro - Mervin Jayathunga (Acting), Kaliyugaya - Punya heendeniya (Acting)

1985 Winners

• Best Film Arunata Pera - Ananda Gunasekara
• Best Direction Arunata Pera - Amaranath Jayathilaka
• Best Actor Arunata Pera - Wijerathna Warakagoda
• Best Actress Arunata Pera - Chandi Rasika
• Best Script Writer Arunata Pera - Amaranath Jayathilaka / Kumara Karunarathna
• Best Cinematographer Maya - Donald Karunarathna (Color), Arunata Pera - Duminda Weerasinghe (Black & White)
• Best Editor Arunata Pera - Elmo Hedly
• Best Music Director Arunata Pera - W.B. Makuloluwa
• Best Art Director HimaKathara - Eral Keli
• Best Sound Director HimaKathara - Shesha Palihakkara
• Best Makeup Artist Maya - K.P.K. Balasingham
• Best Supporting Actor HimaKathara - Sathischandra Edirisingha
• Best Supporting Actress Sathi Pooja - Chandani Senevirathna
• Best Lyrics Writer HimaKathara - "Kanda Eha" - Ogastus Vinayagarathnam
• Best Playback Singer Male HimaKathara - "Kanda Eha" - Ivo Dennis
• Best Playback Singer Female No Award
• Merit Awards Himakathara - Dharmasiri Wickramarathna (Directing), Himakathara - Irangani Serasinghe (Acting), Arunata Pera - Denawaka Hamine (Acting), Adara Geethaya - Daglas Ranasinghe (Acting), Adara Geethaya - Sabeetha perera (Acting), Hithawathiya - Anoja Weerasinghe (Acting), Sathi Pooja - Suvineetha Weerasinghe (Acting), Deweni Gamana - Gamini Wijesooriya (Acting), Parasathuro - Sarath Dasanayaka (Music)

President awarding - Chandrika Kumaratunga

2004 Winners

• Best Film -Mille Soya
• Best Director - Vishvanath Buddhika Keerthisena (Mille Soya)
• Best Actor - Jackson Anthony (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Actress - Geetha Kumarasinghe (Randiya Dahara)
• Best Playback Singer (Female)-Deepika Priyadarshani Peiris [[Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya]
• Best Playback Singer (Male)-Harshana Dissanayake (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Make-up Artist - Ebert Wijesinghe (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Art Direction - Chandragupta Thenuwara (Mille Soya)
• Best Sound Direction-Shyaman Premasundara (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Supporting Actress - Grace Ariyawimal (Gini Kirilli)
• Best Supporting Actor - Mahendra Perera (Randiya Dahara)
• Best Editor - Ravindra Guruge (Mille Soya)
• Best Camera Direction -Channa Deshapriya (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Music Direction - Navaratne Gamage Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya
• Best Script -Someratne Dissanayake (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Composer-Someratne Dissanayake (Sooriya Arana)
• Best Upcoming Actor - Roshan Ravindra Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya
• Best Upcoming Actress -Chathurika Peiris Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya
• Best Popular Movie - Renuka Balasooriya (Sooriya Arana)
• Pioneer Awards -Shelton Premaratne, G.D.L. Perera, Udula Dabare, Anula Karunatilake
• Vishva Keerthi Awards - Benette Ratnayake, Asoka Handagama, Nithyavani Kandasamy, Anoma Janadari, Inoka Sathyangani Keerthinanda, Damitha Abeyratne, Prasanna Vithanage, Nimmi Harasgama
• Swarne Singhe Awards - Tony Ranasinghe, D.B. Nihalsinghe, Irangani Serasinghe, Premasiri Kemadasa.
• Special Award: Vimukthi Jayasundara

President awarding - Maithripala Sirisena

2015 Winners

• Best Film Mohomad Adom Ali(Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Direction Prasanna Vithanage(Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Actor Shayam Pranandu (Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Actress Anjali Patail (Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Script Writer Prasanna Vithanage(Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Cinematographer Channa Deshapriya (Address Ne)
• Best Editor Sheker Prasad(Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Music Director Lashman Josap de Seram (Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best FIlm Song Dinesh Subasinghe
• Best Art Director Manjula Ayagama (Ho Gana Pokuna)
• Best Sound Director Thapasnayak (Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka)
• Best Makeup Artist Harsha Manjula (Address Ne)
• Best Supporting Actor Jayalath Manorathna (Ho Gana Pokuna)
• Best Supporting Actress Damitha Abeyrathna (Address Ne)
• Best Lyrics Writer Pallegama Hemarathana Thero (Maharaja Gamunu)
• Best Playback Singer Male Amila Perera (Sinahawa Atharin)
• Best Playback Singer Female Nirosha Wirajini (Sinahawa Atharin)
• Special Jury Award Kaushalya Pranandu
• Swarna Singhe Awards Nanda Malani, Wasantha Obesekara, Swarna Mallawarachchi, Donnald Karunarathna, Dhrmasiri Bandaranayaka, Anoja Weerasinhe
• Merit Awards Dinakshi Priyasadth (Me Wage Adarayak), Senith Sathwiru Walpitagamage (Ho Gana Pokuna), Sathsara Sawan Jayasooriya (Ho Gana Pokuna), Senitha Dinith Gunasinhe (Ho Gana Pokuna), Nethpriya Madhubhashitha Ranawakarachchige (Ho Gana Pokuna), Thishakya Sankalana Kumarathunga (Ho Gana Pokuna)

Pioneer Awards Thissa Liyanasooriya, Athor U. Amarasena, K.P.K Balasingham, Derik Pranandu, A.D Ranjith Kumara, Prof. Sunil Ariyarathna, Chandra K. Kaluarachchi, Sunil Mihindukula, Gamini Weragama