# Sri Lanka Journalism Awards for Excellence

The Sri Lanka Journalism Awards for Excellence is an awards ceremony held annually in Sri Lanka to recognize the achievements of print media journalists working in the country’s three main languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English.
It is the biggest print media awards programme in the country and is the only independent print media awards ceremony that has no affiliations or obligations to the government or any private institutions.
In addition to awarding the top achievers of several categories in the print media each year, it also honours those who have served the journalistic profession for more than 40 years with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Each winner receives a trophy made in the shape of the nib of a fountain pen and a certificate. Applicants who do not win a category but have satisfied the standards set by the panel of judges receive merit awards which are only certificates.
No cash or other prizes and incentives are offered to the winners. In some years, the winners received other gifts such as mobile phones or tablets along with their awards.

## History

The Journalism Awards Programme was inaugurated in 1999 by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) following the “Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility.”
In 2004, the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) was established and from then on, the Awards Night was jointly organized by TEGOSL and the SLPI.
The inaugural ceremony was held at TransAsia Hotel in Colombo. After that, the ceremony moved to Mount Lavinia Hotel which became a co-sponsor of the event and became the host for every ceremony after that. Usually, the ceremony is held in the last week of July every year.

## Entry and prize considerations

The Journalism Awards for Excellence programme does not automatically consider all applicable works in media. All interested candidates are invited every year to apply for an award in a category of their choice. Generally, the entries close in the last week of March every year.
To be considered for an award, the qualifying work should have been published in a Sri Lankan newspaper between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding year.
To qualify for awards, the applicant should be a full-time journalist, a journalism student doing an internship or someone who had a minimum of ten articles published in a newspaper during the previous calendar year.
The organisers announce the application deadline in media and also on the Sri Lanka Press Institute website.
Along with the newspaper articles, candidates are required to submit an application form which can be downloaded from the Sri Lanka Press Institute website.
The organisers appoint a panel of judges every year and this panel is allowed to meet and consider the entries independently.
There is no competitive process or an involvement of the judges for three of the main award categories. These “Special Awards” are conferred by the TEGSOL as determined by them. The Special Awards categories are; “D. R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and the Public”, “Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom in Sri Lanka” and “Long and Distinguished Service”.

## Changes in Award categories

The award categories have changed over the years. Some new categories have been introduced; some categories have been abandoned while some categories have undergone changes to the name of the category.
From 2000 to 2006, there were three separate awards named D.B. Dhanapala award for Best Journalist in Sinhala Language, D. B. Dhanapala award for Best Journalist in Tamil Language and D. B. Dhanapala award for Best Journalist in English Language. This was in addition to the main award Mervyn de Silva Award for Journalist of the Year. But D.B. Dhanapala Awards were abandoned in 2006.
The Upali Wijewardene Award for Human Interest Reporting category underwent a change of name to Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature writer of the year after the first two years.
Best Environmental Reporter of The Year was initially known as the Best Environmental Report of the Year.
D. B. Dhanapala Award for the Scoop of the Year later shed “D. B. Dhanapala Award” from its category title, and is now known as the “Scoop of the Year”
A significant new category for Investigative Journalist of the Year was introduced in 2008, while a new category for news websites was introduced from 2016. Best Health Care and Medical Reporter category was introduced in 2017.
An award for Best TV News Story was offered in 2007 but was abandoned after that.
Several Award categories started as one main award but were later divided into three language categories later.

## Controversies

Journalists of the Leader Group of Publications which published the newspapers The Sunday Leader, The Morning Leader and Irudina boycotted the 2003 programme to show solidarity with one of their colleagues Frederica Jansz alleging that Jansz had to face harassment from the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka regarding her application. Incidentally, Jansz won the top award – “Mervyn de Silva Award for Journalist of the Year” at the following year’s edition of the programme.
Then in 2007, the Leader Group claimed that a new regulation introduced by the organisers forced them out of contention for awards. The newspaper published an article alleging that the new regulation made it mandatory for all applications to be endorsed by the editor of the publication to the fact that the applicant subscribed to the Code of Ethics of the Editors’ Guild and the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka.
All editors of the group including The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge were not members of the Editors’ Guild and did not subscribe to the Press Complaints Commission or the mandate of the Sri Lanka Press Institute. It effectively meant that the journalists of the Group were not eligible to apply for awards.
Interestingly, until that year, The Sunday Leader was one of the most successful publications at the awards programme producing the winner of Journalist of the Year Award every year except in 1998 and 2001. (They boycotted the event in 2003).
Two years later, journalists from the Leader Group of Publications resumed taking part in the programme as some regulations were changed. Wickrematunge was assassinated in 2009.

## Multiple award winning journalists (more than four)

* 9 – Sonali Samarasinghe (The Sunday Leader) – Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, D. B. Dhanapala Award for Best Journalist of the Year - English Language Press 2000, Scoop of the Year 1998, 2000, 2006, B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year (English) 2006
* 7 – Ranee Mohamed (The Sunday Leader) - D. B. Dhanapala Award for Best Journalist of the Year - English Language Press 2006, D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of His/Her Peers and the General Public 2000, 2002, Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of The Year 2001, (English) 2009, Upali Wijewardene Award for Human Interest Reporting 1998, 1999
* 7 – Channaka de Silva (Daily Mirror) – Scoop of the Year 2012, Sports Journalist of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
* 6 - Robert Antony (Virakesari) - Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of The Year (Tamil) 2015, 2017, 2018 Business Journalist of the Year (Tamil) 2012, 2014, 2016
* 5 – K. Sanjeewa (Ravaya) - Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, Subramaniam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year 2014
* 5 – Namini Wijedasa (Lakbima News, The Island, The Sunday Times) - Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2009, D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of His/Her Peers and the General Public 2005, 2016, B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year (English) 2004, Investigative Journalist of the Year 2015
* 5 - Dharisha Bastians (The Nation/ Daily FT/Daily Mirror) - Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2007, 2013, Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of The Year (English) 2006, B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year (English) 2013, Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year 2005
* 5 – Wimalanath Weeraratne (Ravaya) - B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year (Sinhala) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
* 4 – Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe (Lankadeepa/Irida Lankadeepa) - Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2001, D. B. Dhanapala Award for Best Journalist of the Year - Sinhala Language Press 2000, 2001, Scoop of the Year 2003
* 4 – Dilrukshi Handunnetti (The Sunday Leader/Ceylon Today/The Sunday Times) - Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year 2012, D. B. Dhanapala Award for Best Journalist of the Year - English Language Press 2005, Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year 2000, Best Environmental Report of the Year 2001
* 4 – Chandani Kirinde (The Sunday Times) - Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of The Year (English) 2010, 2015, B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year (English) 2009, 2011
* 4 – Awantha Artigala (Daily Mirror) – Cartoonist of the Year 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
* 4 - Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema (The Sunday Leader) - B. A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year 2012, Investigative Journalist of the Year 2009, Business Journalist of the Year (English) 2005, 2006

## Main awards

The winners of all award ceremonies held in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 have been listed below.

### Long Service to journalism

| Year | Winners |
| 1998 | M.A. Wimal |
| 1999 | (Sinhala) Siriwardene Subasinghe (Tamil) Sinniah Gurunathan (English) Clarence Fernando |
| 2000 | (Sinhala) M. A. de Silva (Tamil) P. A. Sivam (English) D. B. Udalagama |
| 2001 | Benedict Dodampegama David Rajhu Roshan Peiris |
| 2002 | Dalton de Silva Edwin Ariyadasa D.F. Kariyakarawana Jiffry Yoonus Annaluxmy Rajadurai |
| 2003 | W. R. Wijesoma L. E. Samararatne Elmo Gooneratne T. M. Murugiah S. Pathiravithana |
| 2005 | W V Abeygunawardhana Motagedara Wanigaratna Hema Gunawardhana Lesley Dahanayake A Sivanesaselvan |
| 2007 | M.J.M. Zarook D.C. Ranatunga Sriya Ratnakara, N.R.J. Aaron K.T. Sivagurunathan |
| 2008 | Anula de Silva P. Balasingham Louis Benedict Thalangama Jayasinha S. Shanmugarajah |
| 2009 | Anandi Balasingham Srilal Kodikara Arthur U. Amarasena M. V. Kaanamylnathan M. S. M. Mansoor |
| 2010 | Lloyd Rajaratnam Devaraj S. M. Gopalaratnam Bandula Harischandra Sarath Cooray |
| 2011 | D. C. A. (Bernie) Wijesekera Kandiah Nithyananda Sybil Wettasinghe S. Hewage Chithrananda Sunil Madawa Premathilaka |
| 2012 | Edmund Ranasinghe Dunstan Wickramaratne S. Piyasena N. Padmaseelan Carol Aloysius Camillus Perera |
| 2013 | Ajantha Ranasinghe Soloman Ranasinghe Anne Abeysekera Bandu S Kodikara Rasiah Selvarajah |
| 2014 | Binoy Kumar Wickrama Surendra Latheef Farook Nihal Ratnaike Saranapala Pamunuwa S.Thillainathan |
| 2015 | Piyasena Ihalavithana Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Sarath Malalasekera Premasiri Abeysinghe Neville de Silva |
| 2016 | Widana Gamage Gunerathne Lakshman Jayawardena S. A. C. M. Kuwaldeen Palavasam Panneer Selvam Gaston de Rosayro |
| 2017 | A.S. Fernando Cyril Wimalasurendre Merrill Perera Sinniah Kanesan A.L.M. Saleem |
| 2018 | Dudley Jansz L.B. Senaratne Tillakaratne Kuruvita Bandara A.L.K. Perera Kopalapillai Thiruketharanathan |

### Mervyn de Silva Award for Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Iqbal Athas | The Sunday Times |
| 1999 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2000 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2001 | Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe | Lankadeepa |
| 2002 | Amantha Perera | The Sunday Leader |
| 2003 | Kumudini Hettiarchchi | The Sunday Times |
| 2004 | Frederica Jansz | The Sunday Leader |
| 2005 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2006 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2007 | Dharisha Bastians | The Nation |
| 2008 | Not Awarded | |
| 2009 | Namini Wijedasa | Lakbimanews |
| 2010 | Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe | Lakbima/ Lakbimanews |
| 2011 | Lasantha Weerakulasuriya | Lakbima |
| 2012 | Dilrukshi Handunnetti | Ceylon Today |
| 2013 | Dharisha Bastians | Daily FT |
| 2014 | K. Sanjeewa | Ravaya |
| 2015 | K. Sanjeewa | Ravaya |
| 2016 | K. Sanjeewa | Ravaya |
| 2017 | K. Sanjeewa | Ravaya |
| 2018 | R. Ramkumar | Virakesari |

### D. B. Dhanapala Award for Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | (Sinhala) Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe (English) Sonali Samarasinghe (Tamil) Not Awarded | Lankadeepa The Sunday Leader - |
| 2001 | (Sinhala) Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe (English) Amantha Perera (Tamil) Not Awarded | Lankadeepa The Sunday Leader - |
| 2002 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (English) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded | |
| 2003 | (Sinhala) Asuntha Siwemini Edirisuriya (English) Chris Kamalendran (Tamil) Krishni Ifham Kanthasamy | Lakbima The Sunday Times Virakesari |
| 2004 | (Sinhala)Lasantha Ruhunage (English) Frederica Jansz (Tamil) Visu Karnanithi | Ravaya The Sunday Leader Thinakaran |
| 2005 | (Sinhala) Not awarded (English) Dilrukshi Handunnetti (Tamil) Krishni Ifham Kanthasamy | - The Sunday Leader Virakesari |
| 2006 | (Sinhala) Janiytha Seneviratne (English) Ranee Mohamed (Tamil) Somasekaran Jeyamurale | Divaina The Sunday Leader Thinakkural |

### D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and the General Public

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Pradeep Kumar | Dinamina |
| 1999 | The Photo Journalists' Association of Sri Lanka | |
| 2000 | Ranee Mohamed | The Sunday Leader |
| 2001 | Neville de Silva | The Sunday Times |
| 2002 | Ranee Mohamed | The Sunday Leader |
| 2003 | Poddala Jayantha | Silumina |
| 2005 | Namini Wijedasa | The Island |
| 2006 | Dharmeratnam Sivaram (Posthumous) | |
| 2007 | Chandrabose Suthagar (Posthumous) Selvarajah Rajivarman (Posthumous) Nilakshan Sahadevan (Posthumous) W. Gunasinghe | |
| 2008 | Rashmi Mohammed (Posthumous) | Sirasa |
| 2009 | Iqbal Athas | The Sunday Times |
| 2010 | Not Awarded | |
| 2011 | Nuwan Gankanda | Irida Lakbima |
| 2012 | ‘Punchi Putha’ - Ryp Van Winkle | The Sunday Times |
| 2013 | Kishali Pinto Jayawardene | |
| 2014 | Victor Ivan | |
| 2015 | All those who campaigned for the RTI (Right To Information) Law | |
| 2016 | Namini Wijedasa | The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | K.W. Janaranjana | |
| 2018 | Manik de Silva | |

### Upali Wijewardene Award for Human Interest Reporting

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Ranee Mohamed | The Sunday Leader |
| 1999 | Ranee Mohamed | The Sunday Leader |

### Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of The Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Daminda Jeevan Ranasinghe | Lakbima |
| 2001 | Ranee Mohamed | The Sunday Leader |
| 2002 | (English) Kumudini Hettiarachchi (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded | The Sunday Times - - |
| 2003 | (Sinhala) Tissa Ravindra Perera (Sinhala) D. Nihal P. Abeysinghe (English) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded | Lakbima Silumina - - |
| 2004 | (Sinhala) W. A. Inoka Perera Bandara (Sinhala) Prasanna Sanjeewa Tennakoon (English) Priyanwada Ranawaka (English) Renu Warnasuriya (Tamil) Kanaganayagam Valethanchan | Silumina Irida Lankadeepa The Sunday Times The Sunday Times Free Lance Journalist |
| 2005 | (Sinhala) Lasantha Ruhunage (English) Jamila Najmuddin (Tamil) Arasaratnam Rajeevan | Ravaya The Sunday Leader Thinakkural |
| 2006 | (Sinhala) P. M. Senaratne (English) Dharisha Bastians (Tamil) Not Awarded | Mawbima The Nation - |
| 2007 | (Sinhala) Sanjeewika Samarathunga (English) Rathindra Kuruwita (Tamil) Niranjalee Roland | Irida Lankadeepa The Nation Virakesari |
| 2008 | (Sinhala) Sanda Laalith Ranasinghe (Tamil) Niranjani Roland (English) Randima Atygalle | Silumina Metro News The Nation |
| 2009 | (Sinhala) Udani Wijesundara (Tamil) Balasubramaniam Kirubharan (English) Ranee Mohamed | Irida Lakbima Thinakkural The Sunday Leader |
| 2010 | (Sinhala) Prasad Bandara Wijekoon (Tamil) Balasubramaniam Kirubaharan (English) Chandani Kirinde | Ravaya Thinakkural Weekly The Sunday Times |
| 2011 | (Sinhala) Mihiri Fonseka (Tamil) Mohamed Hussain Fathima Husna (English) Nadia Fazlulhaq | Lakbima Thinakkural The Sunday Times |
| 2012 | (Sinhala) Kasun Amila Pussawela (English) Smriti Daniel (Tamil) Logeswaran Thushikaran | Ravaya The Sunday Times Uthayan |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) Daya Neththasinghe (English) Randima Attygalle (Tamil) A Jayasooriyan | Lanka The Sunday Island Sunday Thinakkural |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Ruwan Jayawardane (English) Randima Attygalle (Tamil) Alagan Kanagaraj | Irida Divaina Sunday Island Tamil Mirror |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) Tharanga Rathnaweera (Tamil) I. Robert Antony (English) Chandani Kirinde | Irida Divaina Virakesari The Sunday Times |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) S. G. Punchihewa (Tamil) R. Ramkumar (English) Don Manu | Ravaya Virakesari Daily The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Tharanga Rathnaweera (Tamil) I. Robert Antony (English) Sanju Sirimal Hathurusinghe | Irida Divaina Virakesari Ceylon Today |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Tharanga Rathnaweera (Tamil) I. Robert Antony (English) Sanju Sirimal Hathurusinghe | Irida Divaina Virakesari Ceylon Today |

### B. A. Siriwardene Award for Columnist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Harith Gunawardena (King Barnett) | Irida Divaina |
| 2001 | Iqbal Athas (Situation Report) | The Sunday Times |
| 2002 | Harith Gunawardena (King Barnett) | Irida Divaina |
| 2003 | Rajpal Abeynayake | The Sunday Times |
| 2004 | (Sinhala)Rajapaksa (English) Keith Noyahr (English) Namini Wijedasa (Tamil) P. Shanmuganathan | Irudina Daily Mirror The Island Freelance Journalist |
| 2005 | (English) D B S Jeyaraj (Minor Matters) (Tamil) P Mahendraraja (Sinhala) Not Awarded | The Morning Leader Thinakkural - |
| 2006 | (Sinhala) Editor (Sinhala) Thimbiriyagama Bandara (Tamil) Mohamed Nawas M. Anas (English) Sonali Samarasinghe | Rivira Irida Sangrahaya Ravaya Thinakural The Sunday Leader |
| 2007 | (Sinhala) Thimbiriyagama Bandara (English) K.S. Sivakumaran (Tamil) Balasubramaniyam Kirubaharan | Ravaya The Island Thinakkural |
| 2008 | (Sinhala) Not awarded (Tamil) B. Kirubaharan (English) Nanda Wanasundere | - Thinakkural The Sunday Island |
| 2009 | (Sinhala) Amarasiri Wickramaratne (Tamil) Ayakkannu Titokugan (English) Chandani Kirinde | Lanka Thinakkural The Sunday Times |
| 2010 | (Sinhala) Wimalanath Weerarathna (Tamil) S. Jithendra Prasath (English) D. B. S. Jeyaraj | Ravaya Virakesari Weekly Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | (Sinhala) Wimalanath Weerarathne (Tamil) P A Aswin Sutharson (English) Chandani Kirinde | Ravaya Yarlosai Weekly The Sunday Times |
| 2012 | (Sinhala) Wimalanath Weerarathna (Sinhala) C. J. Amarathunga (English) Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema (Tamil) Abdul Raheem Abdul Fareel | Ravaya Irida Lankadeepa The Sunday Leader Vidiwelli |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) Wimalanath Weerarathne (English) Dharisha Bastians (Tamil) Muttiah Masilamany | Ravaya Daily FT Uthayan |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Wimalanath Weerathne (Tamil) Sinthuja Prasath (English) Not Awarded | Ravaya Daily Virakesari - |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) Narada Karunatilaka (Tamil) Kanagalingam Gopikrishna (English) Padma Edirisinghe | Sunday Rivira Tamil Mirror The Sunday Observer |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) S. G. Punchihewa (Tamil) R. Ramkumar (English) Don Manu | Ravaya Virakesari Daily The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Jeeva Sathasivam (English) Not Awarded | - Virakesari Daily - |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Shirley Anil de Silva (Tamil) Sivalingam Sivakumaran (English) Dilshani Palugaswewa | Mawbima Virakesari Weekly Ceylon Today - |

### Sepala Gunasena Award for Courageous Journalism in the Defence of Press Freedom in Sri Lanka

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Uthayan, Jaffna | |
| 1999 | Victor Ivan | Ravaya |
| 2001 | The Sunday Leader | |
| 2002 | Not Awarded | |
| 2003 | Not Awarded | |
| 2004 | Not Awarded | |
| 2005 | Not Awarded | |
| 2006 | Sunanda Deshapriya | |
| 2007 | Poddala Jayantha and Sanath Balasooriya | |
| 2008 | The Chief Editor and staff | Uthayan |
| 2009 | Lasantha Wickrematunge (Posthumous) | |
| 2010 | Chandana Sirimalwatta | Lanka |
| 2011 | Citizens Movement for Good Governance | |
| 2012 | Seetha Ranjanee | |
| 2013 | Sam Wijesinha | |
| 2014 | Free Media Movement | |
| 2015 | Not Awarded | |
| 2016 | Prabath Sahabandu | The Island |
| 2017 | Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association | |
| 2018 | M.S.M. Ayub | |

### Prof. K. Kailasapathy Award for Reporting Under Special Circumstances

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Ajith Seneviratne | Ravaya |
| 2000 | Mylvaganam Nimalarajan | Ravaya, Virakesari, BBC |
| 2001 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2002 | Ratnayam Thayaparan | Thinakkural |
| 2003 | Daya Neththasinghe | Lanka |
| 2004 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2005 | Vincent Jeyam | Thinakaran |
| 2006 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2007 | Wilson Gnanadass | The Nation |
| 2008 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2009 | The Sunday Leader | - |
| 2010 | Balentheram Pratheepan | Thinakkural |
| 2011 | Tissa Ravindra Perera | Sunday Rivira |
| 2012 | Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk | Lankadeepa |
| 2013 | Not Awarded | |
| 2014 | Balenthiran Piratheepan | Sunday Thinakkural |
| 2015 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2016 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2017 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2018 | Chamara Amarasooriya | Mawbima |

### Sports Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Asoka Goonetilleke | Divaina |
| 2001 | T.M.K. Samat | The Sunday Leader |
| 2002 | C. Vijitha Fernando | Daily Mirror |
| 2003 | C. Vijitha Fernando | Daily Mirror |
| 2004 | Marlon Fernandopulle | The Sunday Times |
| 2005 | T. M. K. Samat | The Sunday Leader |
| 2006 | Sa’adi Thawfeeq | The Nation |
| 2007 | Sa'adi Thawfeeq | The Nation |
| 2008 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2009 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2010 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2012 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2013 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (English) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded | |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) Asela Withana (English) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded | Divaina - - |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Selvathurai Jithendra Presath (English) Not Awarded | - Virakesari Daily - |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Roshan Pathum Sri Wijeratne (English) Champika Fernando (Tamil) Selvathurai Jithendra Presath | Ada The Sunday Times Virakesari Daily |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Roshan Pathum Sri Wijeratne (English) - (Tamil) Selvathurai Jithendra Presath | Ada - Virakesari Daily |

### Scoop of The Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 1999 | Yukthiya | - |
| 2000 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2003 | Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe Vinitha M. Gamage | Irida Lankadeepa Lankadeepa |
| 2004 | Manjula Sanjeevani Fernando | Daily News |
| 2005 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2006 | Sonali Samarasinghe | The Sunday Leader |
| 2007 | Jayantha Sri Nissanka | Lakbimanews |
| 2008 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2009 | News Desk | The Sunday Times |
| 2010 | The Sunday Times | - |
| 2011 | Anthony David | The Sunday Times |
| 2012 | Channaka de Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2013 | Kasun Pussewela | Ravaya |
| 2014 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2015 | News Desk | The Sunday Times |
| 2016 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2017 | The Sunday Times | - |
| 2018 | Tharindu Jayawardhana | Lankadeepa |

### Denzil Peiris Award for Young Reporter of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Shan Wijetunge | Divaina |
| 1999 | Amantha Perera | The Sunday Leader |
| 2000 | Dilrukshi Handunnetti | The Sunday Times |
| 2001 | Shelani de Silva | The Sunday Times |
| 2002 | Sri Gajan | Virakesari |
| 2003 | Warnajith Sumanasekera | Dinamina |
| 2004 | Apeksha Dilmini Vidanagamage | Lakbima |
| 2005 | Dharisha Bastian | Daily Mirror |
| 2006 | A. H. Dileesha Prabhani | Irudina |
| 2007 | Rasika Lakmal Jayakodi | Rivira |
| 2008 | Isuri Kaviratne | The Sunday Times |
| 2009 | Surekha Sanjeevani Samarasena | Ravaya |
| 2010 | Lakna Tharindu Paranamanna | Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | B Dianne Geraldine Silva | Daily Mirror |
| 2012 | Lakna Tharindu Paranamanna | Daily Mirror |
| 2013 | Aanya Wipulasena | The Sunday Times |
| 2014 | Kamanthi Wickremesinghe | Daily Mirror |
| 2015 | Piyumi Fonseka | Daily Mirror |
| 2016 | Tharindu Amila Uduwaragedera | Ravaya |
| 2017 | Thevarajah Virooshan | Sunday Virakesari |
| 2018 | Mandira Pabasarani Wijerathna | Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) |

### Best Photograph of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Dilshika Jayamaha | The Sunday Times |

### Photographer of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Buddhika Weerasinghe Saranapala Pamunuwa | Lakbima Sunday Island |
| 1999 | Gemunu Wellage | The Sunday Times |
| 2000 | Sajeewa Chinthaka | Lakbima |
| 2001 | Asoka Peiris | Lankadeepa |
| 2002 | Daminda Harsha Perera | Daily Mirror |
| 2003 | K. Ganeshraj | Thinakkural |
| 2004 | Pradeep K. Pathirana | Daily Mirror |
| 2005 | Lakruwan Wanniarachchi | Lakbima |
| 2006 | Ishara Anuruddha Kodikara | The Nation |
| 2007 | Dinuka Liyanawatta | Daily Mirror |
| 2008 | Dinuka Liyanawatte | Daily Mirror |
| 2009 | Samantha Perera | Daily Mirror |
| 2010 | Chathura Kodikara | Rivira |
| 2011 | Sanka Vidanagama | Ceylon Today |
| 2012 | Gemunu Wellage | Ceylon Today |
| 2013 | Rukshan Abeywansha | The Nation |
| 2014 | Lalith Perera | The Sunday Leader |
| 2015 | Eshan Shammi Fernando | Ada |
| 2016 | Saman Abesiriwardana | Divaina/ The Island |
| 2017 | Jeyakumar Sujeewakumar | Weekend Express |
| 2018 | Tharaka Basnayaka | Ceylon Today |

### Cartoonist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | W. Wijesoma | The Island |
| 1999 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2000 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2001 | Not Awarded | - |
| 2002 | Ramachandran | Thinakkural |
| 2003 | Dasa Hapuwalanage | Lankadeepa |
| 2004 | (Sinhala) Dasa Hapuwalanage (English) Wasantha Kanthilal Siriwardena (Tamil) Suppiah Jeyapalan | Lankadeepa Daily Mirror Virakesari |
| 2005 | Jeffrey Ansley Michael Kelaart de Silva | The Island |
| 2006 | Suppiah Jeyapalan | Virakesari |
| 2007 | R.C. Pradeep Kumara | Thinakkural |
| 2008 | Wasantha Siriwardena | The Nation |
| 2009 | Suppiah Jeyapalan | Virakesari |
| 2010 | Awantha Artigala | Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | Gihan de Chickera | Daily Mirror |
| 2012 | Awantha Artigala | Daily Mirror |
| 2013 | Awantha Artigala | Daily Mirror |
| 2014 | Awantha Artigala | Daily Mirror |
| 2015 | Namal Amarasinghe | Tamil Mirror |
| 2016 | Namal Amarasinghe | Tamil Mirror |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) M.D. Weeraratne (Tamil) Sauntis Tarmathus (English) Jeffrey Ansley Michael Kelaart de Silva | Mawbima Virakesari Sunday The Island |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Anjana Indrajith Jayaweera (Tamil) Namal Madushanka Amarasinghe (English) M.D. Weeraratne | Irida Lakbima Tamil Mirror Ceylon Today |

### Best Designed Newspaper of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | (Colour) The Sunday Leader (Black and White) Ravaya | |
| 2000 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2001 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2002 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2003 | Irida Lankadeepa | |
| 2004 | M. L Ajith Ravindra | Irudina |
| 2005 | Daily Virakesari | |
| 2006 | Thilina Alahakoon | Mawbima |
| 2007 | Rivira Media Corporation | The Nation |
| 2008 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2009 | Irida Lakbima | |
| 2010 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2011 | Aruna Wickramarachchi | The Sunday Times |
| 2012 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2013 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2014 | Ravaya | |
| 2015 | The Sunday Times | |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) Ravaya (Tamil) Thinakkural (English) The Sunday Times | |
| 2017 | The Design Team | The Sunday Times |
| 2018 | The Design Team | Deshaya |

### Best Environmental Report of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2001 | Dilrukshi Handunnetti | The Sunday Times |
| 2002 | Not Awarded | |
| 2003 | Florence Wickramage | Daily News |
| 2004 | Nihal .P. Abeysinghe | Silumina |
| 2005 | Ifham Nizam | The Island |
| 2006 | Hema Sri Amarasinghe | Sathdina |
| 2007 | Saliya Kumara Gunasekera | Lakbima |
| 2008 | Nimashi Amaleeta | The Nation |
| 2009 | Karunaratne Gamage | Irida Divaina |
| 2010 | Malaka Rodrigo | The Sunday Times |
| 2011 | Rathindra Kuruwita | Lakbimanews |
| 2012 | P. M. M. Abdul Cader | Metro News |
| 2013 | Nirmala Kannangara | The Sunday Leader |
| 2014 | (English) Nadia Fazlulhaq (Tamil) M.H. Fathima Husna (Sinhala) Not Awarded | The Sunday Times Thinakkural - |
| 2015 | Jagath Kumara Kanahara Arachchi | Divaina |
| 2016 | Aruna Lakshan Fernando | Irida Lakbima |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Dhammika Sapumal Jayasena (Tamil) Mohamed Ali Sabry Ahmed (English) Prasanna Cooray | Mawbima Nawamini The Island |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka (Tamil) Murukaiah Thamilselvan (English) Ranmini Gunasekara | Mawbima Thinakaran Ceylon Today |

### Subramaniam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2004 | Sita Ranjani | Free Lance Journalist |
| 2005 | D Charles Peters | Virakesari |
| 2006 | Niranjani Roland | Metro News |
| 2007 | R.A. Chandrasiri Ranasinghe | Irida Lankadeepa |
| 2008 | K. Ponmalar | Metro News |
| 2009 | Mohamed Hussain Fathima Husna | Thinakkural |
| 2010 | Susitha R. Fernando | Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | Dayaseeli Liyanage Balakrishnan Thirugnanam | Irida Lankadeepa Virakesari |
| 2012 | S. Thushyanthan | Thinakkural |
| 2013 | Lakna Tharindu Paranamanna | Daily Mirror |
| 2014 | K. Sanjeewa | Ravaya |
| 2015 | Sudharma Ruwan Kumari Herath | Irida Lankadeepa |
| 2016 | Dharma Mohottal | Irida Lakbima |
| 2017 | K.V. Samantha Jayalal Sulochana Ramiah Mohan | Irida Lankadeepa Ceylon Today |
| 2018 | Indunil Shiromi Usgoda Arachchi | Ravaya |

### Business Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2004 | (Sinhala) Asuntha S Edirisuriya (English) Nisthar Cassim (Tamil) Not Awarded | Lakbima Daily Mirror (Financial Times) - |
| 2005 | (Sinhala) Ruwan Thilina Samarasingha (English) Mandana Ismail Abeywickrama (Tamil) G L Ahamed Nifras | Ravaya The Sunday Leader Virakesari |
| 2006 | (Sinhala) Ruwan Thilina Samarasinghe (Tamil) A. L. Ahamed Nifras (English) Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema | Ravaya Virakesari The Sunday Leader |
| 2007 | (English) Indika Sakalasooriya (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Ahamed Nifras | The Nation - Virakesari |
| 2008 | (Sinhala) Shyam Nuwan Ganewatte (Tamil) Niranjani Roland (English) Bandula Sirimanna | Sunday Divaina Metro News The Sunday Times |
| 2009 | (Sinhala) Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta (Tamil) Yogarajah Nimalraj (English) Cheranka Mendis | Divaina/Irida Divaina Thinakkural Daily FT |
| 2010 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Rajan Sujitha (English) Uditha Jayasinghe | - Virakesari Daily FT |
| 2011 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Not Awarded (English) Not Awarded | - - - |
| 2012 | (Sinhala) Ruwan Thilina Samarasinghe (Tamil) Robert Antony (English) Abdul Razak Mohamed Azhar | Ravaya Virakesari The Nation |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) D D Chaminda Wickramaratne (English) Not Awarded (Tamil) Sangapillai Vinoth | Lakbima - Daily Virakesari |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (English) Shabiya Ali Ahlam (Tamil) Robert Antony | - Daily FT Daily Virakesari |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) S.S.Chandrasekar (English) Chandeepa Wettasinghe | - Tamil Mirror Daily Mirror |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) Not Awarded (Tamil) Robert Antony (English) Not Awarded | - Virakesari Daily - |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Dulika Samanmali (Tamil) Suthanthiranathan Anuthinan (English) Not Awarded | Irida Lakbima Tamil Mirror - |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Dulika Samanmali (Tamil) Suthanthiranathan Anuthinan (English) Charindra Chandrasena | Irida Lakbima Tamil Mirror The Sunday Morning |

### Investigative Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2008 | Dr. Prasanna Cooray | The Island |
| 2009 | Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema | The Sunday Leader |
| 2010 | Lakbimanews | |
| 2011 | Sugath Priyantha Kulatungaarachchi | Irida Lakbima |
| 2012 | Harsha Mangala Sugathadasa | Irida Lakbima |
| 2013 | The Sunday Times News Desk | |
| 2014 | Not Awarded | |
| 2015 | Namini Wijedasa | The Sunday Times |
| 2016 | Mahendra Tharaaka Wickramasekera | Silumina |
| 2017 | Barana Mihiran Karunarathne | Irida Lakbima |
| 2018 | Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka | Mawbima |

### Best Designed News Website

| Year | Winner |
| 2016 | (English) www.dailynews.lk (Sinhala) www.dinamina.lk (Tamil) www.virakesari.lk |
| 2017 | (English) www.dailymirror.lk (Sinhala) www.deshaya.lk (Tamil) www.thinakaran.lk |
| 2018 | (English) www.dailynews.lk (Sinhala) www.dinamina.lk (Tamil) www.metronews.lk |

### Health Care and Medical Reporter of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Palitha Jayakody (Tamil) Dr. Sivapalan Sivansuthan (English) Udara Punnami Amarasinghe | Rivira Valamburi Daily Mirror |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Sugath Priyantha Kulathunga Arachchi (Tamil) Fatima Husna (English) Udara Punnami Amarasinghe | Deshaya Thinakkural Daily Mirror |

### Best News/Feature Using RTI

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Tharindu Jayawardhana and Bingun Menaka Gamage (Tamil) Karuppaiah Prasanna Kumar (English) The Sunday Times Team | Lankadeepa Thinakkural The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) |

### TV News Story of the Year

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2007 | Rasika Lakmal Alwis | Swarnavahini |

## Other awards
### Special awards made by the panel of judges
#### Special Award of Excellence recommended by the panel

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Free Media Movement Dharmasiri Gamage | - Silumina |
| 2000 | W. Wijesoma Karunadasa Sooriarachchi | Sunday Island Irida Divaina |
| 2002 | K.A. Jagath Kanaheraarchchi Tilak Navaratne Paathukavalan Magazine, Jaffna | Sunday Divaina Subasetha - |
| 2003 | Nihal Abeysinghe Gamini Weerakoon S. Thillainathan | Silumina The Island Virakesari |
| 2004 | K. W. Janaranjana Sena Vidanagama Ranee Mohamed The Sunday Times | Ravaya Photo Journalist The Sunday Leader |

#### Special Awards for the best students of the Sri Lanka College of Journalism

| Year | Award | Winner |
| 2005 | Best Sinhala Language student Best Tamil Language student Best English Language student | Aruni Muthumali Charles Peter Sanjeewa Chandrasekara |

### Merit awards and honourable mention
#### Merit Awards for Reporting under special circumstances

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Buddhika Weerasinghe Lakruwan Wanniarachchi M.A. Pushpakumara Sajeewa Chinthaka Janapriya Samaradiwakara Asoka Fernando Lakmal Spencer Saman Mendis H.A.N. Fernando Thinakkural Newspaper Uthayan Newspaper | Lakbima Lankadeepa The Sunday Times The Sunday Times Yukthiya The Sunday Leader The Sunday Leader Dinamina Sithijaya - - |
| 2000 | Buddhika Weerasinghe | Lakbima |

#### Merit Awards in D.B. Dhanapala Award for Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Award | Winner |
| 2004 | (English) Dilrukshi Handunneti | The Sunday Leader |
| 2000 | (Tamil) Aathavan (Tamil) Sarinihar | |
| 2004 | (Tamil) (Runner Up) Krishni Kandasamy | Virakesari |

#### Merit Awards in Mervyn de Silva Award for Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Award | Winner |
| 2006 | Puvirajasingham Christopher Kamalendran Sajeewa Wijeweera | The Sunday Times Lankadeepa |
| 2007 | Sunethra Athugalpura | Lakbima |
| 2008 | D. Charles Peter Christopher Kamalendran Janyitha Seneviratne | Metro News The Sunday Times Sunday Divaina |
| 2010 | Gagani Weerakoon | The Nation |
| 2018 | Chandani Kirinde Wisu Karunanidhi | The Sunday Times Thinakaran |
| 2019 | Easwarana Ratnam | The Sunday Morning Leader |

#### Merit Awards in Denzil Peiris Young Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Award | Winner |
| 1999 | Vasana Wickramasena | Daily Mirror |
| 2000 | Nilika de Silva | The Sunday Times |
| 2001 | Sri Gajan | Virakesari |
| 2002 | Tissa Ravindra Perera Gaya Kumara Weerasinghe | Lakbima Lakbima |
| 2003 | Vasana Wickremasena Chandra Prakash | Daily Mirror Thinakkural |
| 2004 | 1st Runner up: Pradeepa Vijayaratnamm Highly recommended : Dharisha Bastians D. Charles Peters Tissa Ravindra Perera | Thinakkural The Sunday Leader Virakesari Lakbima |
| 2009 | Nadia Fazlulhaq B. Dianne Geraldine Silva | The Sunday Times Daily Mirror |
| 2010 | Ramesh Warallegama S. N. Mohamed Suhail | Irida Lakbima Vidivelli |
| 2011 | S N Mohamed Suhail Sanjaya Nallaperuma | Vidivelli Irida Lakbima |
| 2012 | Krishna Moorthy Krishna Prasath Kasun Pussawela | Sooriyakanthi Ravaya |
| 2013 | M F M Fazeer Gayan Gallage Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya | Daily Virakesari Rivira The Nation |
| 2016 | Sinduri Sappanipillai Thevarajah Virooshan | Daily/Weekend Express Virakesari |
| 2017 | Tharindu Amila Uduwaragedara Fatima Amara Ismail | Ravaya Daily Mirror |
| 2018 | Yogaraj Dharmaraj Nirmani Bandaranayake | Thinakkural Resa |

#### Merit Awards in Photographer of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Janapriya Samaradiwakara Daminda Harsha Perera | Lankadeepa, Divaina Daily Mirror |
| 2000 | Ajith Seneviratne Saranapala Pamunuwa J. Weerasekera Chathura S. Kodikara Daminda Harsha Perera | Ravaya Divaina The Sunday Times Lankadeepa Daily Mirror |
| 2001 | Rukmal Gamage Sajeeva Chintaka Nihal Chandrakumara | Lakbima Irida Lakbima Divaina |
| 2002 | Eranga Jayawardena Lakmal Wasantha | The Island/Divaina/ Lakbima |
| 2003 | Ashoka Peris | The Sunday Leader |
| 2008 | Nishan S. Priyantha | Divaina |
| 2009 | Sanka Gayashan Vidanagama | The Sunday Times |
| 2010 | Balentheram Pratheepan Gemunu H. Wellage Kushan Pathiraja | Thinakkural The Sunday Times Daily Mirror |
| 2011 | Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa M S Saleem | Lankadeepa Metro News |
| 2013 | Ajith Madurapperuma Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai | Lankadeepa Ceylon Today |
| 2014 | Kushan Sangeeth Pathiraja | Daily Mirror |
| 2015 | Amila Gamage | The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | D.G. Sampath Priyantha Mohamed Saley Saleem | Lakbima Virakesari Sunday |

#### Merit Awards in Best Cartoon of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Daya Rajapakse Viroshan Wickremeratne | Lankadeepa Gnanartha Pradeepaya |

#### Merit awards in Scoop of The Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1998 | Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe | Irida Lankadeepa |
| 2000 | Lasantha Ruhunage | Ravaya |
| 1999 | Suranimala | The Sunday Leader |
| 2014 | Kasun Pussewela | Ravaya |

#### Merit Awards in Upali Wijewardene Award for Human Interest Reporting Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 1999 | Namini Wijedasa Kumudini Hettiarachchi | Daily Mirror The Sunday Times |

#### Merit Awards in Upali Wijewardene Award for Feature Writer of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2001 | Daminda Jeevan Ranasinghe | Irida Lakbima |
| 2002 | Neil Siriweera | Irida Lankadeepa |
| 2003 | Kumudini Hettiarchchi | The Sunday Times |
| 2004 | (English) (Runner Up) Malinda Seneviratne (Tamil) (Runner Up) R. Raviavrma | The Sunday Island Thinakkural |
| 2007 | (English) Poornima Weerasekara | Daily Mirror |
| 2008 | (English) Chamitha Kuruppu | LakbimaNews |
| 2009 | (Sinhala) Sanjeewika Samaratunga (Tamil) Hassthani Radhakrishnan (English) Randima Attygalle | Irida Lankadeepa Daily Virakesari The Nation |
| 2010 | (Sinhala) Sanda Laalith Ranasinghe (Sinhala) Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe Karunarathne (Tamil) Arun Arokianathan (English) Gagani Weerakoon (English) Randima Attygalle | Dinamina Irida Lakbima Virakesari The Nation The Nation |
| 2011 | (Sinhala) Biyanka Nanayakkara (Tamil) K Ponmalar (Tamil) S. L. Nirosha Darshan (English) Ranee Mohamed (English) Juliet Coombe | Irida Rivira Metro News Virakesari The Sunday Leader Lakbimanews |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) Priyantha Hettige (Tamil) M Hussain Fathima Husna | Irudina Daily Thinakkural |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Sugath Priyantha Kulathunga Arachchi (Sinhala) Inoka Samarawickrama (English) Sarini Shihara Maduwage (Tamil) Poraniyapillai Pushparaju | Deshaya Silumina Daily Mirror Metro News |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) Nimal Abesinghe (Tamil) Rajagopal Yasiharan (English) Adilah Ismail | Ravaya Virakesari The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Sugath Priyantha Kulatunga Arachchi (Tamil) Shanmuganathan Prathiban | Deshaya Sudar Oli |

#### Merit Awards in Prof. K. Kailasapathy Award for Reporting Under Special Circumstances

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Thinakathir newspaper, Batticaloa | |
| 2004 | Highly recommended: Paalippode Venugopal | Eelanatham |
| 2009 | M. Mihiri Mangala Fonseka Arun Arokianathan | Irida Lakbima Daily Virakesari |
| 2010 | Rivira Team | |
| 2011 | Balenthiram Piratheepan | Thinakkural |
| 2012 | Dilrukshi Handunnetti Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai Nirmala Kannangara Jeyam Christirasa | Ceylon Today Ceylon Today The Sunday Leader Thinakkural |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) A.A. Chamara Madushanka (Tamil) N.C. Najimudeen | Mawbima Virakesari Daily |
| 2017 | (Sinhala) Kasun Pussewela (English) Daily FT Team | Resa Daily FT |

#### Merit Awards in Best Foreign Report of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Thalif Deen | The Sunday Times |

#### Merit Awards in Sports Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Namal Pathirage | Daily Mirror |
| 2001 | C. Vijitha Fernando | Daily Mirror |
| 2003 | Marlon Fernandopulle Shamseer Jaleel | The Sunday Times The Sunday Times |
| 2004 | (1st Runner up) T. M. K Samat (2nd Runner up) Sivalingam Sivakumaran | The Sunday Leader Virakesari |
| 2006 | Namal Pathirage | Lankadeepa |
| 2009 | Mohamed Naushad Amit Ehamparan Ravivarmah | The Nation Metro News |
| 2010 | Neville Victor Anthony | Virakesari |
| 2011 | Mariadhasan Michael Silvester Chamila Karawita | Virakesari Divaina |
| 2012 | Ravichchandren Ramkumar Roshan Ahangama | Thinakkural Rivira |
| 2013 | P A Sukeethan | Daily Virakesari |
| 2014 | (English) Channaka de Silva (Sinhala) Chamila Karawita | Daily Mirror Divaina |
| 2015 | (Tamil) Mariadhasan Michael Silvester (English) Tuan Mohammed Kamoordeen Samat | Virakesari Weekly The Sunday Leader |
| 2016 | (Sinhala) Roshan Pethum Sri Wijeratne | Ada |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Prince Gunasekara (English) Harsha Amarasinghe | Dinamina Daily Mirror |

#### Merit Awards in Cartoonist of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Dasa Hapuwalanage | Lakbima |
| 2001 | Wasantha Siriwardene | Daily Mirror |
| 2003 | Wasantha Siriwardena | Daily Mirror |
| 2004 | Runner-up (Sinhala) J. Viroshan Wickramarathne Runner-up (English) Lalith Chandana Senanayake Runner-up (Tamil) S Yogamoorthy | Gnanartha Pradeepaya The Island Thinakkural |
| 2006 | Jiffrey Kelaart de Silva Dasa Hapuwalanage | Upali Newspapers Lankadeepa |
| 2007 | Asanga Indunil Weerasekara | Rivira |
| 2009 | Wasantha Kanthilal Siriwardena | The Nation |
| | Jeffry Michael Kelaart de Silva | The Island |
| 2010 | Anjana Indrajith Jayaweera Ratnaraja C. Pradeepkumar | Lakbima Thinakkural |
| 2011 | S Jeyapalan Anjana Indrajith | Virakesari Lakbima |
| 2014 | Gihan de Chickera Namal Amarasinghe | Daily Mirror Tamil Mirror |
| 2015 | Jeffrey Ainsley Michael Kelaart P. Shandrasegaram | The Island Virakesari |
| 2018 | Dhammika Sajith Bandara Ekanayaka | Daily Mirror |

#### Merit Awards in Best Designed Newspaper of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2000 | Ravaya Divaina Pathukavalam, Jaffna | |
| 2004 | (Runner Up) Ajith Parakum Jayasinghe | Hiru |
| 2006 | Wasantha Siriwardane | The Nation |
| 2008 | Daily Mirror Ravaya | |
| 2009 | The Nation Metro News | |
| 2010 | (Sinhala) Irida Lakbima (Tamil) Virakesari Daily (English) The Nation | |
| 2011 | Rivira Vivivelli | |
| 2014 | The Nation | |
| 2015 | Deshaya Thinakkural Weekly | |
| 2017 | Ravaya | |
| 2017 | (Runner Up) Vidivelli | |

#### Merit Awards in Best Environmental Report of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2001 | Nihal P. Abeysinghe | Silumina |
| 2003 | Shanika Sriyananda | Sunday Observer |
| 2004 | (Runner Up) Nadeera Tharushi Seneviratne | The Island |
| 2007 | Ifham Nizam | The Island |
| 2008 | (Tamil) Kulanthaivel Jeyandran (English) Ifham Nizam | Thinakkural The Island |
| 2010 | K. Ponmalar Rathna B. Ekanayake | Virakesari Divaina |
| 2011 | Balasubramaniyam Kirubaharan | Thinakkural |
| 2012 | T. G. Supun Lahiru Prakash Nirmala Kannangara | Irida Lakbima The Sunday Leader |
| 2013 | Gunasingham Mikunthan Achala Dharmasena T G Supun Lahiru Prakash | Vallampuri Lakbima Irida Janarala |
| 2015 | Nayanaka Ranwella Shanmuganathan Jeyabalan | Sunday Rivira Yarl Thinakkural |
| 2018 | Aruna Lakshman Fernando Dimuthu Attanayaka | Irida Lakbima Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) |

#### Merit Awards in B.A. Siriwardene Award for the Columnist of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2001 | Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi (Kasurige Kolama) | Divaina |
| 2003 | Thimbiriyagama Bandara | Ravaya |
| 2004 | (Runner Up) Harith Gunawardena | Irida Divaina |
| 2009 | (Sinhala) Sujeewa Wimalanath Weeraratne (Tamil) A. H. Siddeque Kariyapper (English) Emil Hals Van Der Poorten | Ravaya Virakesari The Sunday Leader |
| 2011 | (Sinhala) Sisira Paranathanthri (Sinhala) Niroshan Handalage (Tamil) Vadivel Thevaraj (English) Emil Van Der Poorten | Rivira Divaina Virakesari The Sunday Leader |
| 2012 | (English) Dharisha Bastians (Tamil) Ismaill B. Maarieef | Daily FT Thinakkural |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) Biyanka Nanayakkara (Tamil) A M Wais (Tamil) N. Neduncheliyan | Rivira Nawamani Virakesari Weekly |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Amarasiri Wickramaratne | Mawbima (Sunday) |
| 2015 | (Tamil) Alagan Kanagaraj (English) Rasika Jayakody | Tamil Mirror Daily News |
| 2017 | (Tamil) Kanagalingam Gopikrishna | Tamil Mirror |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Chamathka Kaveen Bandara | Resa |

#### Merit Award in Business Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2004 | (Sinhala)(Runner up) Janiytha Seneviratne (English)(Runner Up) Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema | Divaina The Sunday Leader |
| 2009 | (English) Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema | The Sunday Leader |
| 2011 | (English) Sulochana Ramiah Mohan (Tamil) Robert Antony | Lakbimanews Virakesari |
| 2012 | (Sinhala) Yasewardana Rodrigo | Irida Lakbima |
| 2013 | (Sinhala) Gamini Sarath Godakanda (English) Shabiya Ali Ahlam | Lankadeepa Daily FT |
| 2014 | (Sinhala) Gamini Sarath Godakanda | Rivira |
| 2015 | (Sinhala) H.A.W.M. Janiytha Seneviratne | Irida Divaina |
| 2016 | (English) Chandeepa Wettasinghe | Daily Mirror |
| 2018 | (Sinhala) Mahendra Tharaka Wickramasekara | Silumina |

#### Merit Awards in Subramaniam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2006 | Shyamalee Murugesu | The Island |
| 2007 | M.A. Fahim | Virakesari |
| 2008 | Asuntha Sivumini Edirisooriya | Irida Lankadeepa |
| 2009 | Ratna B. Ekanayake Chathuri Prarthanie Dissanayake | Divaina The Sunday Times |
| 2010 | Randima Attygalle P. M. M. A. Cader | The Nation Thinakkural |
| 2011 | Ananda Kumar Kannangara Lakna Paranamanna | Sunday Observer Daily Mirror |
| 2012 | S. Thushyanthan | Thinakkural |
| 2013 | Daya Neththasinghe S. Thujiyanthan Chaturi Dissanayake Mangalanath Liyanaarachchi | Lanka Sunday Thinakkural The Sunday Times Lakbima |
| 2014 | Joseph George Stephen Chamara Amarasooriya Camelia Nilruksha Nathaniel | Daily Virakesari Rivira The Sunday Leader |
| 2015 | Alagan Kanagaraj | Tamil Mirror |
| | Camelia Nilrukshi Nathaniel | The Sunday Leader |
| 2016 | Devika Renganathan | Virakesari |
| | Kasun Warakapitiya | The Sunday Times |
| 2017 | K. Prasanna Kumar | Thinakkural |

#### Merit Awards in D. R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Peers and Public Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2003 | A.K.M. Pillai Lasantha Ruhunage | Thinakaran Ravaya |
| 2009 | Shamindra Ferdinando Sirimevan Kasthuriarachchi Mihiri Fonseka Ramesh Warallegama Prasanna Jayasuriya Duminda Sanjeeva Balasuriya Sunil Jayasiri Ranil Wijepala Tissa Ravindra Perera Prasanna Fonseka Ranga Jayasuriya | The Island Divaina Irida Lakbima Daily Lakbima Lankadeepa Irida Lankadeepa Daily Mirror Daily News Rivira Siyatha Labimanews |

#### Merit Awards for Best Radio News Story

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2007 | Fathima Nazriya | Pirai FM |

#### Merit Awards in Investigative Journalist of the Year Category

| Year | Winner | Newspaper |
| 2008 | Raknish Savan Wijewardene | The Sunday Leader |
| 2011 | Indika Sri Aravinda | The Sunday Leader |
| 2013 | Prasad Abeywickrama | Rivira Irida Sangrahaya |
| 2014 | Nirmala Kannangara | The Sunday Leader |
| 2018 | Murugesupillai Selvarajah | Sooriyakanthi |

#### Merit Awards in Sepala Gunasena Award for Defending Press Freedom in Sri Lanka Category

| Year | Winner |
| 2009 | Upali Tennakoon J. S. Tissainayagam Poddala Jayantha N. Vithyatharan |

#### Merit Awards in Best News/Feature Using RTI

| Year | Winner |
| 2018 | Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi | Resa |

#### Merit Awards in Best Designed News Website Category

| Year | Winner |
| 2016 | (English) www.sundaytimes.lk |
| | (Sinhala) www.lankadeepa.lk |
| | (Tamil) www.vidivelli.lk |
| 2017 | (English) www.dailynews.lk |
| | (Sinhala) www.dinamina.lk |
| | (Tamil) www.thinakkural.lk |
| 2018 | (English) - |
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