16/01/2025
Chamari Athapatthu, Aruna Dharshana Bag Top Prizes at 9th SILK Sports Awards..!
5th January 2025 the stage was prepared for a star studded evening at BMICH, Ruby Hall. 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; this awards night was indeed a glam and was called - SILK Sports Awards 2024.
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 recognised 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.
SILK Sports Awards is a complex yet comprehensive awards night picking these wonderful and amazing individuals who are committed to achieve the greatness from myriad categories and award them for their rightful claim amidst the glitz, glamour in full celebration.
From inception in 2015 to perform this strenuous and responsible ask of selection and awarding SILK Sports Awards organising 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 recognised 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
