# 19th Presidential Awards

The 19th Presidential Film Awards festival (Sinhala: 19 වැනි ජනාධිපති සම්මාන උලෙළ), presented by the Sri Lanka Film Corporation with the collaboration of the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media, was held on July 29, 1996, at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. His Excellency The President Maithripala Sirisena was the chief guest at the awards night.
Around 96 Awards were presented to 27 artists who excelled in 79 films in Sinhala cinema screened from 2016 to 2018 (Twenty five films screened in 2016, twenty six films screened in 2017 and twenty eight films in 2018). Meanwhile, 11 recipients won the Pioneer Awards, Swarnasinghe Awards and Vishwa Keerthi Awards. The Swarnasinghe Lifetime Award was presented by President to veteran artists Ravindra Randeniya, Nita Fernando and Sugathapala Senarath Yapa. Meanwhile, Anoma Janadari and film director Sanjeewa Pushpakumara received the Vishwa Keerthi Award from the President for their acting talent. Purogami Awards were won by Shanthi Abeysekera, Anton Gregory, K.D. Dayananda, Swarna Kahawita, Sunil Soma Peiris and Alexander Fernando.

## 2016 Awards

| Category | Film | Recipient |
| Best Film | Let Her Cry | Asoka Jagath Wijenayake |
| Best Direction | Let Her Cry | Asoka Handagama |
| Best Script | Sayapethi Kusuma | Visakesa Chandrasekaram |
| Best Actor | Motor Bicycle | Dasun Pathirana |
| Best Actress | Let Her Cry | Swarna Mallawarachchi |
| Best Supporting Actor | Adaraneeya Kathawak | Bimal Jayakody |
| Best Supporting Actress | Motor Bicycle | Veena Jayakody |
| Best Supporting Actress | Paththini | Aruni Rajapaksha |
| Best Cinematographer | Let Her Cry | Channa Deshapriya |
| Best Lyricist | Sayapethi Kusuma | Visakesa Chandrasekaram |
| Best Music Director | Sakkarang | Nadeeka Guruge |
| Best Song | Motor Bicycle | Ajith Kumarasiri |
| Best Playback Singer | Let Her Cry | Chitral Somapala |
| Best Playback Singer | Motor Bicycle | Ajith Kumarasiri |
| Best Playback Songstress | Paththini | Nirosha Virajini |
| Best Playback Songstress | Sarigama | Uresha Ravihari |
| Best Editor | Let Her Cry | Ravindra Guruge |
| Best Sound Designer | Maya 3D | Pravin Jayaratne |
| Best Art Director | Sakkarang | Lal Harindranath |
| Best Make-up Artist | Maya 3D | Nalin Premarthilake |
| Best Actor in a Comedy Role | Maya 3D | Pubudu Chathuranga |
| Best Upcoming Actor | Sayapethi Kusuma | Jehan Sri Kanth |
| Best Film | Sayapethi Kusuma | Yashoda Rasanduni |
| Maximum Audience Response | Paththini | |
| Special Jury Awards | Paththini (costumes) | Venuka Wickramasinghe |
| Special Jury Awards | Paththini (choreography) | Chandana Wickramasinghe |
| Special Jury Awards | Motor Bicycle (acting) | Samanalee Fonseka |
| Merit Awards | Sakkarang (acting) | Thusitha Laknath |
| Merit Awards | Motor Bicycle (acting) | Kalana Kusalatha |
| Merit Awards | Sakkarang (acting) | Prasadini Atapattu |
| Merit Awards | Adaraneeya Kathawak (cinematography) | Ruwan Costa |

## 2017 Awards

| Category | Film | Recipient |
| Best Film | 28 | Rashitha Jinasena |
| Best Direction | 28 | Prasanna Jayakody |
| Best Script | 28 | Prasanna Jayakody |
| Best Actor | 28 | Mahendra Perera |
| Best Actress | 28 | Semini Iddamalgoda |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sulanga Gini Aran | Roshan Ravindra |
| Best Supporting Actress | Swaroopa | Nita Fernando |
| Best Cinematographer | Nimnayaka Hudekalawa | Channa Deshapriya |
| Best Lyricist | Kaala | Raji Wasantha Welgama |
| Best Music Director | Aloko Udapadi | Milinda Tennekoon |
| Best Song | Kaala | Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake |
| Best Playback Singer | Kaala | Thusith Simpson |
| Best Playback Songstress | Nino Live | Umali Thilakarathne |
| Best Editor | 28 | Rangana Sinharage |
| Best Sound Designer | Aloko Udapadi | Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe |
| Best Art Director | 28 | Nuwan Sanuranga |
| Best Make-up Artist | Swaroopa | Ranjith Manthagaweera |
| Best Actor in a Comedy Role | Paha Samath | Giriraj Kaushalya |
| Best Actor in a Comedy Role | Paha Samath | Priyantha Seneviratne |
| Best Upcoming Actor | Aloko Udapadi | Shammu Kasun |
| Best Upcoming Actress | Nino Live | Yureni Noshika |
| Maximum Audience Response | Dharmayuddhaya | |
| Special Jury Awards | A Level (acting) | Jayalath Manoratne |
| Special Jury Awards | Aloko Udapadi (acting) | Darshan Dharmaraj |
| Special Jury Awards | Aloko Udapadi (acting) | Chathra Weeraman |
| Merit Awards | A Level (acting) | Sachira Weerasinghe |
| Merit Awards | Kaala (singing) | Himasha Manupriya |
| Merit Awards | Swaroopa (acting) | Rini de Silva |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Kaala (acting) | Chalesha Charunethra |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Dharmayuddhaya (acting) | Vinumi Vinsadi |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Paha Samath (acting) | Sharad Chanduma |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Paha Samath (acting) | Sejan Hansaka |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Paha Samath (acting) | Kivindi Kasundara |
| Certificates of Jury Assessment | Paha Samath (acting) | Amiru Koralage |

## 2018 Awards

| Category | Film | Recipient |
| Best Film | Davena Wihagun | Sanjeewa Pushpakumara |
| Best Direction | Davena Wihagun | Sanjeewa Pushpakumara |
| Best Script | Davena Wihagun | Sanjeewa Pushpakumara |
| Best Actor | Davena Wihagun | Mahendra Perera |
| Best Actress | Davena Wihagun | Anoma Janadari |
| Best Supporting Actor | Nidahase Piya DS | Poojitha de Mel |
| Best Supporting Actress | Davena Wihagun | Samanalee Fonseka |
| Best Cinematographer | Vaishnavee | Nimal Mendis |
| Best Lyricist | Sarungal | Achala Soloman |
| Best Music Director | According to Matthew | Chandana Jayasinghe |
| Best Song | Sarungal | Ranga Dassanayake |
| Best Playback Singer | Gharasarapa | Bachi Susan |
| Best Playback Songstress | Gharasarapa | Samitha Mudunkotuwa |
| Best Editor | Komaali Kings | Anjelo Jones |
| Best Sound Designer | Nidahase Piya DS | Pravin Jayaratne |
| Best Art Director | Komaali Kings | Dasun Ravinath |
| Best Make-up Artist | Vaishnavee | Ebert Wijesinghe |
| Best Make-up Artist | Vaishnavee | Ranjith Manthagaweera |
| Best Actor in a Comedy Role | Komaali Kings | Raja Ganesan |
| Best Upcoming Actor | Gharasarapa | Devnaka Porage |
| Best Upcoming Actress | Gharasarapa | Kavindya Adhikari |
| Maximum Audience Response | Bimba Devi Alias Yashodhara | |
| Special Jury Awards | Salei Pukkal (acting) | Sri Niroshan |
| Special Jury Awards | Salei Pukkal (acting) | Sudharshan Rutnam |
| Special Jury Awards | Goal (acting) | David Karunaratne |
| Merit Awards | Sarungal (acting) | Chamathka Lakmini |
| Merit Awards | Goal (acting) | Nayana Darshani Perera |
Next edition was held in 2023 at 20th Presidential Awards