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Sumathi Awards (Sinhala: සුමති සම්මාන) is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with Sri Lanka’s television screen, each year by the Sumathi Group of Company, Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan teledrama industry and television programs. The Sumathi ceremony is one of the most popular television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 1995.
History:
The Sumathi film awards ceremony began in 1995 with the leadership of Mrs. Milina Sumathipala. Sumathi Group of Companies came forward and organized television festivals, acknowledging its significance and outstanding attainments to improve the quality of television programs to every age limit of the people and to acknowledge the behind the screen technicians to bring forward and value their efforts to Sri Lankan television.[2]
The award ceremony has been witnessed 26 times consecutively, with three interruptions in 2005,2020 and 2022 where the Award ceremony did not celebrated.
Awards given
In 1995, there were 32 awards in total, categorized into 4 sections – best awards, popular awards, commercial awards and merit awards. In 1996 at the second Sumathi Awards ceremony, U.A Sumathipala Award was introduced.[3] Since 2000, awards were given under those above five categories. In 2000 Sumathi Awards, Jury Award category was included. With that six categories were awarded until 2011. In 2011 Sumathi Awards, News and other broadcasting category was introduced. In 2014 Sumathi Awards, the child award category was introduced. Since then, 50-55 Sumathi Awards have been awarded under 8 categories.
Best awards
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Upcoming Actor
- Best Upcoming Actress
- Best Director
- Best Art Director
- Best Teledrama Series
- Best Single Episode
- Best Makeup Artist
- Best Cameraman
- Best Editor
- Best Music Director
- Best Script
- Best Lyrics
- Best Singer
- Best Current Affairs
- Best Documentary
- Best Musical Program
- Best Magazine Program
- Best Presenter
- Best Children’s Program
- Best Educational Program
- Best Sports Program
- Best Women’s Program
- Best Audio Visual Program
