Dr. Lester James Peries was awarded the Sri Lankabhimanya

On 02/02/2007, Dr. Lester James Peries was formally recognized with the Sri Lankabhimanya, Sri Lanka’s highest national honour, conferred by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for exceptionally outstanding and most distinguished service to the nation. The award followed Gazette proclamation No. 1485/25 issued on the same date. Dr. Peries, born on 05/04/1919 and passing away on 29/04/2018, was widely regarded as the Father of Sri Lankan Cinema, a title reflecting his decades long contribution to shaping a distinct national film identity. The Sri Lankabhimanya is reserved for individuals whose work has had a profound and measurable contribution to the country across fields such as arts, public service, and law. In 2007, the honour was also conferred upon A. T. Ariyaratne for civil service and Christopher Weeramantry for law. Dr. Peries publicly described the recognition as the most treasured award he had received, noting that it came from his own country, a statement that underscored the personal importance of the honour. Dr. Peries’ influence on Sinhala cinema began with his first feature film, Rekava, released in 1956. The film is credited with steering local cinema away from strong Indian stylistic influence and introducing a realist approach grounded in Sri Lankan rural life. His 1963 film Gamperaliya won the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India in 1965, bringing international recognition to Sri Lankan filmmaking. Over the course of his career, he directed more than 20 feature films. Among his most noted works are Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya released in 1970, and Wekande Walauwa released in 2002. Wekande Walauwa became Sri Lanka’s first official submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2003, he received the Fellini Gold Medal from UNESCO in recognition of his contribution to cinema. These achievements established his presence both locally and internationally and formed the foundation for the national honour awarded in 2007. The conferment of the Sri Lankabhimanya on 02/02/2007 formally acknowledged more than five decades of contribution to Sri Lankan arts and culture, particularly his role in developing an authentic cinematic language rooted in Sri Lankan society and literature.