Sriyantha, Kanchana, Ananda, ‘Dhawala Kadulla’ the best

The ninth Raigam Tele Awards ceremony was held at Waters Edge last Friday amidst a distinguished gathering including glittering stars of the small screen. Veteran artistes Sriyantha Mendis and Kanchana Mendis walked away with awards for the Best Actor and Best Actress while seasoned campaigner Ananda Abeynayake was adjudged the Best Director both in the Feature and Single Episode categories.

‘Dhawala Kadulla’ was deemed last year’s Best Tele Drama for which Sunethra Rajakarunanayake won the award for Best Script. The highlight of the event was the presentation of special Felicitation Awards to Rev. Fr. Ernest Porutota and Lalitha Siribaddana with the Prathibha Prabha honorary title given to veteran Dharmasena Pathiraja.
Duleeka Marapana and Dasun Pathirana were the Best Supporting Actress and Actor. Rupavahini was the award-winning channel for 2012 and also the Best Tele Drama Channel while Sirasa TV won the award for the Best Programs Channel. It also won the Best Reality TV Award for 2012. Popular television personality Thanuja Jayawardane won the award for Best TV Host in the Sinhala language, while the Tamil and English category awards went to N.S. Niranjani and Indiwari Amuwatte. The news readers’ awards in Sinhala, Tamil and English were clinched by Omaya Kowilage, Jeffry Jebadarshan and Ifthiya Abdul Cader. Saranga Dissasekara and Asha Edirisinghe were voted the Most Popular Tele Drama Actor and Actress while the Most Popular Tele Drama was Induwari. Narada Thotagamuwa bagged the award for the Best Makeup Artist, Sujeewa Gunaratne Best Art Director, Somaratne Perera Best Lighting, Ravibandu Vidyapathi and Priyantha Dassanayake Best Music, Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka Best Lyricist, Indika Upamali and Bachi Susan Best Singers, Upul Prajath Best Cameraman, Lakruwan de Saram Best Editing, while Eranga Jeewantha and Ruwangani Rathnayake were the Up And Coming Actor and Actress. Special jury awards were given to Sachin Chathuranga, Heshani Ruwandika, C. Kuruppu, Ranjiwani Beddawithana, Ananda Kumara, Mihiri Sirithilaka, Chrish Harris, Santhusha Liyanage, Uththarithara program series of Hiru TV, Sunil Mihindukula, Sanhinda – Udaya Tennekoon and Indrasiri Suraweera.