State Music Awards Festival 2011
Amalshan GUNERATHNE
The State Music Awards Ceremony 2011 was held last week at the Temple
trees. The event aimed at forming a formidable challenge to the
commercial based, contemporary music culture which has dulled the
aesthetic taste buds of music fans. This is the first instance where an
event of this magnitude was organised at national level to recognize the
talents of local musicians.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa honours a
musician. Sri Lanka Board
of Arts Chairman Professor Carlo Fonseka looks on.
Pictures by Sudath Silva |
The awards were given to both Sinhalese and Tamil artistes under
different categories. Speaking at the event, the senior artiste Rohana
Weerasinghe noted, “Now that the peace has greeted us, we should look to
bridge the gap between north and south through art and culture.”
The veteran singer Sunil Edirisinghe won the Award for the most
outstanding male vocalist of the year for the song “Me Tharam
Siyumalida”.
‘Deepika Priyadarshani took away the award for the best female singer
award. Deepika also won the award for the best music album award. The
award for the best male Tamil vocalist was given to ‘Sami Thambi’ while
the best female Tamil vocalist award went to Viroshini Wijerathnam.
The talents of both young and senior artistes were acknowledged at
the ceremony. Sena Fonseka, Manjula Senivarathne, Dulip Gabadamudalige,
Kalani Perera, Mahinda Algama, Professor Daya Rathnasekara, Somathilka
Jayamaha were given honorary awards in recognition to the great service
they have done to enrich the Sri Lankan art and music. The presentation
of the book “Sahityanjali” authored by veteran lyricist Sunil R. Gamage
also took place during the event.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister of Culture and Aesthetic
Affairs T.B Ekanayake, Malini Fonseka MP, Governor of Central Province
Karunarathne Divulgane, Chairman of Sri Lanka Board of Arts Carlo
Fonseka and many other distinguished people in the field of music and
art were present at the event.
The event was organised jointly by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs,
the Cultural Affairs Department, the Sri Lanka Arts Council and the
State Music Committee.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
Culture and Aesthetic Affairs Minister T.B Ekanayake with
the honoured veterans in the field of music |
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