Making headlines!
View(s):They are the people behind the news- the ones whose names you may read in the newspaper but who are rarely themselves in the 
spotlight. Last Tuesday, the 15th edition of the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence drew the publishers, editors, reporters, photo-journalists, sub-editors and others from the print media away from their computers and deadlines, for the grand ceremony to fete those who had excelled in their profession.
Amidst the fanfare, the Sunday Times carried away some of the most prestigious awards of the evening: The Best Designed Newspaper; the D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Public and Peers won by columnist Kishali Pinto Jayewardene; the Investigative Journalist of the Year Award won by the Sunday Times News Desk; the Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year, won by Aanya Wipulasena and the Subramaniyam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year merit award which went to Chathuri Dissanayake.
The Wijeya Group as a whole had much to celebrate. The coveted Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year award was won by Dharisha Bastians of the Daily FT who received her trophy from the Chief Guest, Prof.
A proud moment: Winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards-Mrs. Anne Abayasekara (seated), and standing (left to right) Rasiah Selvarajah, D. Solomon Ranasinghe, Bandu S. Kodikara and Ajantha Ranasinghe, on stage with their awards
Thomas Oomen of India’s MASSCOM Institute and one of India’s best known journalism teachers. Dharisha also carried away the B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year Award.
The Daily Mirror had Channaka de Silva winning the Sports Journalist of the Year Award while Lakna Paranamanna carried away the Subramaniyam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year Award and Awantha Artigala was adjudged Cartoonist of the Year Award.
The Photojournalist of the Year merit award went to Ajith Madurapperuma of Lankadeepa .
A feature of the evening is always the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Awards to veteran journalists who have served the profession with honour and
A warm welcome: Prof. Thomas Oomen and Mrs Oomen arriving at the ceremony
distinction. The five journalists who received their awards and also a golden shawl for their sterling contribution to the print media, Rasiah Selvarajah, D. Solomon Ranasinghe, Bandu S. Kodikara, Ajantha Ranasinghe and Anne Abayasekera had the pleasure of seeing their names and citations up on the big screen.
The awards ceremony held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel was organised by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka in partnership with the Sri Lanka Press Institute.
 The Best Designed Newspaper of the Year: The Sunday Times- AGM Design, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, Aruna Wickramarachchi receiving the award from President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association Lasantha Ruhunuge |
 Subramaniyam Chettiar Social Development Reporting - Merit Award: Chathuri Dissanayake receiving her certificate from Editor of Nawamani and President of the Muslim Media Forum, N. M. Ameen |
 Investigative Journalist of the Year: The Sunday Times News Desk: Deputy Editor (News) , Anthony David receiving the award from Director, Lakbima Newspapers Ltd, Sujeewa Godaliyadda |
 The D.R. Wijewardene Award for Earning the Appreciation of Public and Peers: Kishali Pinto Jayawardena receiving her award from former President of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka, Manik de Silva. |
 The Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year Award: Aanya Wipulasena receiving her award from Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Kumar Nadesan |
 The Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year Award: Dharisha Bastians of the Daily FT receiving her award from Chief Guest Prof. Thomas Oomen |
 An award for remembrance: Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute Kumar Nadesan (right) and President of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Siri Ranasinghe (left) after presenting a memento to Chief Guest, Prof. Thomas Oomen |
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