SPORTSINFO together with Institute of Sports Management put on a grandeur show to conclude Sri Lanka’s first and foremost sports awards ceremony, SILK Sports Awards for the 9th consecutive year.
The idea of an awards ceremony of this calibre was initiated so that the true sporting legends and heroes and other contributors who uplift the sporting industry to be recognized and awarded for their efforts and contributions. The SILK Sports Awards initiative has grown over the years and has become a concept that has touched millions of Sri Lankans hearts; by doing so remind them of who lifts up the sporting industry for us to be proud and gives the opportunity to rant on about its glory.
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SILK Sports Awards is a complex yet comprehensive awards night picking these wonderful and amazing individ- uals who are committed to achieve the greatness from myriad categories and award them for their rightful claim amidst the glitz, glamour in full celebration.
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From inception in 2015 to perform this strenuous and responsible ask of selection and awarding SILK Sports Awards organizing committee appoints an impartial jury that works hand in hand to assure that the selection process which is carried out by a nomination panel voting process is performed to absolute perfection. 10-member SILK Jury panel is led by Professor Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando and Dr. Harsha B. Abeykoon. These awards are presented to the top sportsmen and women and other contributors who are at the top of the selected category in Sri Lanka.
Apart from the major awards, SILK Awards are awarded for sports excellence, sports contribution and as special jury awards, these awards are awarded for selected sportsmen, women and other personalities from the industry in general who has contributed or partaken in a way that is above and beyond. This could either by excelling or contributing either locally or internationally.
SILK Sports Awards now has been recognized internationally with certification of recognition provided by the International Olympic Committee. Therefore, SILK now has created a special jury awards category for international sportsmen, women and organizations who has made a difference in the industry.
The 9th SILK Sports Awards winners were selected by the performances and contributions based on the year 2023.
MAJOR SILK AWARDS – 8
1. SILK LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD – MICHEAL THISSERA
2. DUNCAN WHITE SILK AWARD FOR SPORTS EXCELLENCE & CONTRIBUTION – ARAVINDA DE SILVA
3. RANATUNGA KARUNANANDA SILK AWARD FOR SPORTS INSPIRATION – THARUSHI KARUNARATHNA
4. YOGANANDA WIJESUNDARA SILK AWARD FOR SPORTS MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION – PREMA PINNAWALA
5. LIONEL MENDIS SILK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COACHING & GUIDANCE – SANATH MARTIS
6. BERNIE WIJESEKERA SILK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS JOURNALISM – PRINCE GUNASEKERA
7. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MALE – ARUNA DHARSHANA
8. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – FEMALE – CHAMARI ATHAPATTHU SILK SPECIAL JURY AWARDS – LOCAL (08)
9. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR – NADEESHA LEKAMGE
10. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING LOCAL SPORTS BRAND OF THE YEAR – GORDONE SRI LANKA
11. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING SRI LANKAN REPRESENTATION FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS BODY – LAKSHMI VICTORIA
12. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR – 400×4 MEN’S RELAY TEAM (ARUNA DHARSHANA/ RAJITHA NERANJAN/ KAUSHIKA KESHAN/ KALINGA KUMARA)
13. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING PERSONNAL CONTRIBUTION TO PROMOTE SPORTS IN SRI LANKA – PUVANASINGAM VASEEKARAN
14. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING CSR PROJECT – SPORTS FOR DEVELOPMENT – UNICEF SRI LANKA
15. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS EDUCATION – SABARAGAMUWA UNIVERSITY OF SL
16. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING PARA SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR – SAMITHA DULAN SILK SPECIAL JURY AWARDS – INTERNATIONAL (3)
17. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE THROUGH SPORTS – UNITED NATIONS
18. SILK AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING & INSPIRING INTERNATIONAL SPORTS PERSONALITY – NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19. SILK AWARD FOR MOST INSPIRATIONAL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR – NICHOLAS BROOKES
THE MEMBERS OF SILK SPORTS AWARDS JURY
Prof. Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando – Co- Head of Jury
– Director General of Sports – Sri Lanka / Sri Lankan admiral athlete sports administrator and journalist
Dr. Harsha B. Abeykoon – Co – Head of Jury
– Founder of National Sports Development Foundation
Mr. Ana Punchihewa
Sports Administrator – Former President of BCCSL – 1996
Mr. Brendon Kuruppu
– Former National Cricketer & Former Chairman of National Cricket Selction Commitee
Mr. Talavou Alailima
– Former National Athlete & Founder, Chairman – Power World Private Limited.
Mr. Gamini Jayasinghe
– Former Prison Commisioner & Treasurer of the National Olympic Committee
Mr. Chandna Ekanayake
– Former Prison Commisioner / Vice President of Sri Lanka Athletics
Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema
– Former Director General – Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency
Upali Amarathunga
– Director (Sports & Physical Education) – Ministry of Education
Major General Rohana Bandara
– Former Director General Sports – Sri Lanka Army
