Sri Lanka’s first and foremost sports awards ceremony, ‘Silk Sports Awards’ was held for the ninth consecutive year recently, honouring sporting legends and heroes and other contributors who uplifted the sporting industry.

The 10-member ‘Silk’ jury panel was led by Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando and Dr. Harsha B. Abeykoon.

According to the organisers, the ‘Silk Sports Awards’ has now been recognised internationally with a certification of recognition provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The winners of the ninth ‘Silk Sports Awards’ were selected based on their performances and contributions in 2023.  

Major ‘Silk’ awards 

Pic 1 - Lifetime Achievement Award – Michael Tissera

Pic 2 - Yogananda Wijesundara Award – Sports Management and Administration – Prema Pinnawala

Pic 3 - Lionel Mendis Award – Outstanding Coaching and Guidance – Sanath Martis

Pic 4 - Bernie Wijesekera Award – Outstanding Contribution to Sports Journalism – Prince Gunasekera

Pic 5 - Most Outstanding Sports Personality of the Year – Male – Aruna Darshana

The Duncan White Award for Sports Excellence and Contribution was awarded to Aravinda de Silva, Tharushi Karunarathna was awarded the Ranatunga Karunananda Award for Sports Inspiration, and the award for the Most Outstanding Sports Personality of the Year – Female was awarded to Chamari Athapaththu. 

‘Silk’ special jury awards – Local

Pic 6 - Most Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year – Nadeesha Lekamge 

Pic 7 - Most Outstanding Local Sports Brand of the Year – Gordone Sri Lanka

Pic 8 - Most Outstanding Sri Lankan Representation for an International Sports Body – Lakshmi Victoria 

Pic 9 - Most Outstanding Sports Team of the Year – 400×4 Men’s Relay Team (Aruna Darshana, Rajitha Neranjan, Kaushika Keshan, Kalinga Kumara)

Pic 10 - Most Outstanding Personal Contribution to Promote Sports in Sri Lanka – Puvanasingam Vaseekaran 

Pic 11 - Most Outstanding Sports CSR Project – UNICEF Sri Lanka

Pic 12 - Most Outstanding Contribution to Sports Education – Sabaragamuwa University

Other awards

Meanwhile, the Most Outstanding Para Sportsman of the Year title was awarded to Samitha Dulan. Nicholas Brookes secured the Most Inspirational Sports Book of the Year award for the book ‘An Island’s Eleven’. 

The award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to International Peace through Sports was given to the United Nations, while Novak Djokovic was awarded the Outstanding and Inspiring International Sports Personality of the Year title.