With the primary goal of recognizing Sri Lankan sports stars for their efforts in keeping the passion of sports alive in the hearts of Sri Lankans and to celebrate their achievements the Platinum Awards 2014 was held yesterday at Stein Studios Ratmalana.
The inaugural Platinum Awards Ceremony organized by Sports First and sponsored by Mobitel was facilitated yesterday to give recognition for the sporting achievements of hundreds of sportsmen and sportswomen in a wide range of sports categories from across the country. It was an exciting initiative to reward and give recognition to the talent, sheer discipline and unwavering determination for the country`s biggest sporting talents.
The winners of the Platinum Awards 2014 were chosen from twenty two sport award categories which were decided by an exclusive judging panel comprising of Dhamayanthi Dharsha, Dilroy Fernando, Sunil Gunerwardhana, Juilan Bolling, Dayan Gomez, Kisho Gomez, Hemasiri Fernando, Hemaka Amarasinghe and Ruwan Keragala. The final decision on the winner of the Most Popular Sportsman of the Year award was determined by the people via SMS vote.
Angelo Mathews contended with nominees Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, T M Dilshan, and Manju Wanniarachchi to win the Most Popular Sportsmen. He also became the Best Cricketer of the Year beating some of his compatriorts. A Life Time Achievement award was awarded to Mr. Arjuna Ranathunaga skipper of 96` world cup winning team recognizing the yeomen service he has rendered to Sri Lanka Cricket.
Isipathana College Rugby team crowned as the Best Schools Sports Team of the Year ©ThePapare.com
Sports personalities expressing their views stated that this was a commendable act to felicitate the schoolboys and the university sportsmen and women and that it will help drive the future of Sri Lankan sports. Omalka Guneratene won the award for the School Rugby Player of the Year while he and his team won the award for the Best School Sports Team of the year for being unbeaten triple champions winning all three formats of the Schools Rugby Season. Dilantha Malagamuwa who has been driving across the world carrying the national flag for twenty five long years was crowned as the Motor-sportsman of the year.
While the sports persons were crowned, the people who stood behind them for their success and achievements were also appreciated. A.D. Nanadawathi won the PTI Teacher of the Year award while Randeesh Aponsu won the Best Coach of the Year award.
The rest of the sports persons who were crowned is as follows:
School Cricketer of the Year – Tharinda Mendis
Best Outstation Sportsmen – Himasha Eshan
Up-coming Sportswoman of the Year – Kimiko Raheem
Up- coming Sportsmen of the Year – Akila Ravishanka
University Sportsman of the Year- Nisasnala Weerasinghe
Best Military Sportsman – Yoshitha Rajapakse
Best Come-back Sportsman – Anurudha Ranathanayake
Best Sports Team of the Year – Sri Lanka Navy Rugby Team
Best Schools Sportswoman of the Year – Machiko Raheem
Best School Sportsmen of the Year – Shashika Ekanayake
Best Sports Woman – Chandrika Subashin
Best Cricketer (Women) – Chamari Attapattu
