In a celebration of cinematic brilliance and cultural pride, The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) announced the launch of the Calin Sarasaviya Film Awards 2025 at a press conference at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on Thursday.
Presented by Sarasaviya, Lake House’s iconic cinema weekly, the Sarasaviya Film Awards return for their 36th grand edition — a tradition of excellence dating back to 1964. This prestigious awards ceremony continues its mission to promote, recognise, and nurture Sri Lanka’s cinema, while paying homage to the visionaries and performers who shape the silver screen.
Glittering evening
This year, the awards embrace the theme. Nawum Deshayaka Cinema Abhishekaya (Cinematic Crowning in a New Land). It will be a powerful tribute to the ever-expanding frontiers of film, and the birth of new cinematic legacies. The glittering evening of talent and triumph, the event where the brightest stars and creative forces of Sri Lanka’s film industry will be honoured in true regal style, the Sarasaviya Film Awards, will take place on June 24 at the BMICH.
The success of this prestigious event is made possible through the generous support of several partners: the Principal Sponsor: Calin Beauty Soap, Gold Sponsor: Wasana Bakers (Pvt) Ltd., Hospitality Sponsors: Cinnamon Grand Hotels and Sinhala film streaming service Rupa hala.
The press launch was graced by a distinguished panel of industry and media leaders. At the head table were Sarasaviya Editor Dr. Nayanajith Kumara, Senior Actress Sriyani Amarasena, , Wasana Bakers (Pvt) Ltd., Director Nandana Perera, ANCL Chairman and Managing Director Gamini Warushamana, Calin National Sales Manager Sudaraka Chirathana, Cinnamon Grand Hotels Manager Dushyantha Tittawella and Rupahala Chief Executive Officer Lahiru Wickremesinghe.
Also in attendance were members of the Lake House Board of Directors, including Sisira Yapa (Director Editorial) and Chamara Peiris (Director Operations), along with prominent actors, actresses, and media personalities.
More opportunities
The Sarasaviya Film Awards ceremony is one of the oldest film events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 1964. The Sarasaviya Awards have been often referred to as the Sinhala cinema industry’s equivalent to the Oscars. Most artistes consider winning a Sarasaviya award as the pinnacle of their cinematic career, even though there are a few other cinema awards events in the country. It also opens doors to more opportunities for them locally and globally.
The first Sarasaviya film festival was held on May 9, 1964 at the Asoka Cinema Hall, Colombo, 17 years after the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa (Broken Promise) was screened in 1948, incidentally the same year Sri Lanka gained Independence.
By then a series of good Sinhala films like Podi Putha (Younger son), Sandeshaya (Missive), Ranmuthuduwa (Golden Pearl Island), Kurulubedda, Sikuru Tharuwa and Gamperaliya (Transformation in the Village) had appeared on the silver screen. Yet the mainstream Sinhala cinema mainly consisted of simulations or cover versions of Indian productions, with the melodies of songs also copied.
Even though Sinhala cinema turned a new leaf with Lester James Piries’ Rekawa (The Line of Destiny) in 1956, the year 1960 is more or less seen as the beginning of the “Golden era” of Sinhala cinema. The first Sarasaviya Awards Festival had as entries not only the films screened in 1963 but also the films screened from 1960 to 1963. The best film, best director, best script-writer, best actor and best actress were honoured that day.
Gamperaliya was awarded the best film and it was awarded to its producer Anton Wickremasinghe. Sir Lester James Piries and Regi Siriwardena won the awards for best director and best script-writer, for Gamperaliya. D.R. Nanayakkara was awarded best actor for his performance in Sikuru Tharuwa, another popular film in the 1964 film festival. The best actress award was received by Punya Heendeniya for her stellar performance in Gamperaliya.
Last awards ceremony
The last Sarasaviya Film Awards ceremony was held in 2024 at the BMICH. The awards ceremony was organised to celebrate the country’s cinematic excellence and the queen of Sri Lankan cinema, the legendary Dr. Malani Fonseka was the chief guest. Fifty-seven coveted awards were presented to films released during 2019 and 2020, spanning a diverse array of categories including direction, acting, cinematography, playback singing and music composition.
Veteran artiste Sathischandra Edirisinghe bagged the once-in-a-lifetime Ranathisara award for 2019 in recognition of their service for the cause of cinema. Popular Singer Victor Rathnayake received the Ranathisara Award for 2020 for his invaluable contribution towards the musical industry in Sinhala cinema. This year, several new awards were introduced in addition to the regular ones. The Ranathisara Award was named the Dr. Lester James Peries Memorial Ranathisara Award in honour of the legendary cinema director. Sarasaviya will continue to be the benchmark by which all other film fests are measured.
