Local News from Sri Lanka: The 2019 State Literary Awards Ceremony was held in the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall yesterday (12th) afternoon, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, to honor the literati who enriched the field of literature in Sri Lanka.
Many writers have been awarded in 2018 for their invaluable contribution and excellence in advancing the literature.
The President also presented Prof. Walter Marasinghe, Mr. Ayyathurai Santhan and Ms. Kamala Wijeratne with the “Sahityaratna” Lifetime Award for their excellent service in advancing the field of local literature in Sinhala, Tamil and English respectively.
Author Ms. Virajini Tennakoon got the prize for the best independent Sinhala novel for “Makaranandaya” book. Mr. Elmo Jayewardene received the prize for his literary work “Kakiyan” for the best autonomous English novel.
The “Aluwarakarei” by Writer Mr. A.S. Uthayan was awarded in this contest for the best autonomous Tamil novel. Meanwhile, for the “Kshana Niyama” best poetry award of the year, Mr. Nandana Weerasinghe has earned the State Literary Award.
The awards ceremony is organized by the State Literary Advisory Council, the Sri Lankan Arts Council, the Cultural Affairs Department, and the Cultural Affairs Ministry each year.
The awards ceremony was also attended by Minister Sajith Premadasa, Secretary of Cultural Affairs Mr. Barnad Wasantha, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs Ms. Anusha Gokula Franando, Prof. Ariyaratne Kaluarachchi, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Arts Council, Prof. Samantha Herath, Chairman of the State Literary Advisory Board and a group of academics and artists.
