Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2017 - award winners

Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2017, felicitating outstanding individuals and groups of the island nation, was held for the second consecutive year at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo on Wednesday (27).

Fourteen awards in total were presented to a range of individuals from a range of fields and professions. 

The awards ceremony was launched last year to honour and celebrate individuals and groups whose efforts and achievements have far reaching influence on the country, positively impacting the local community and helping to profile Sri Lanka among the international community.

Winners were nominated across multiple categories such as Sports, Global Entertainer, Unsung Hero, Entertainer, Global Scientist, Icon, Entrepreneur, and Global Businessman. 

Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan was presented the ‘Icon of the Year’ award while singer Chamara Weerasinghe took home the ‘Popular Award’ this year.

Winners: 

Sports – Mr Dinesh Priyantha Herath 
Entertainer Classical Category – Mr Ravibandu Vidyapathi
Entertainment Distinguished Achievement – Kala Keerthi Irangani Serasinghe
Entrepreneur - Aban Pestonjee
Global Businessman – Mahesh Amalean
Global Scientist – Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe 
Global Entertainer – Mr Rohan de Silva 
Global Professional – Mr Cecil Balmond
Popular Category –  Mr Chamara Weerasinghe
Public Service – Mr Gamini Wijesinghe 
Unsung Hero – Mrs Lily Violet & Ms. Thilini Nadeeka Shalwin 
Bravery Award – Mr Naveen Danushka & Nihal Sarath Kumara & Mr. Eranga Wikumsiri
Lifetime Achievement – Sri Lankaabhimanya Lester James Peiris 
ICON of the Year – Mr Muttiah Muralitharan 

The Ada Derana ‘Sri Lankan of the Year’ is designed as an exhaustive, rigorous and credible platform to nominate and select Sri Lankans whose dedication and commitment in their chosen fields have inspired pride and patriotism. 

In recognising such achievement, it is hoped that fellow Sri Lankans, especially the younger generations, will be inspired to emulate the hard work, passion, and vision of their idols.

The two-tiered selection process is a robust and transparent one with nominees being shortlisted through an editorially driven process, under the supervision of the Ada Derana editorial leadership in collaboration with industry/category specialists.