Sirisena officiates at 19th Presidential Cinema Awards ceremony

The 19th Presidential Cinema Awards ceremony was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre recently.

President Sirisena presented awards to 27 outstanding performers from 79 films screened from 2016 to 2018, with 11 Purogami Awards, Swarnasinghe Awards and Vishwakeerthi Awards.

The Swarnasinghe Award for Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to veteran actors Ravindra Randeniya, Nita Fernando and veteran Film Director Sugathapala Senarath Yapa.

Anoma Jinadari and Film Director Sanjeewa Pushpakumara won the Vishwakeerthi Awards. Shanthi Bandara, Anton Gregory, K.D. Dayananda, Swarna Kahawita, Sunilsoma Peiris and Alexander Fernando also received awards from the President.

Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa, Northern Province Governor Suren Raghavan, Film Corporation Chairman Anusha Gokula Fernando and Ministry of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Secretary Bernard Wasantha also participated in the event.