The Aviva NDB Award of Excellence was presented to veteran actor cum dramatist Jayalath Manorathne at the glittering Aviva NDB sales conference held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Center recently.
The Aviva NDB Award of Excellence was presented to veteran actor cum dramatist Jayalath Manorathne at the glittering Aviva NDB sales conference held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Center recently. He received the award amidst a thunderous standing ovation of the large gathering of 1,600 best performing Wealth Planners and distinguished invitees.
Eminent persons who have taken the nation's art and culture to greater heights are felicitated at the annually held sales convention to reaffirm Aviva NDB's commitment to excellence. This year the award was presented to Jayalath Manorathne for attaining excellence in his chosen sphere of performing arts in his own unique, inimitable and lovable style.
Over the past three decades, Jayalath Manorathne has portrayed a wide array of colourful characters from the remote villager to the urban middle class executive for the delight of the Sri Lankan audience. In 1974 he was awarded, best actor for his stellar performance in Lucien Bulathsinhala's "Ratu Hettakari". He also received awards for his roles in "Puthra Samagama", "Thala Mala Pipila", "Socrates" and "Dwithwa" at the State Drama Festival.
Expanding from acting to direction Manorathne created many popular stage plays such as "Puthra Samagama", "Maha Giri Damba", "Andarela", "Grutharuwa", "Sandagira", "Lokaya Thani Yayak" and "Sudu Redi Horu". As an exceptional personality with enormous acting talent and visual capacity he conquered the small screen as well as the silver screen bagging the awards for best supporting actor in films "Mangala Tegga" and "Sudu Kaluwara". For his performances in tele-dramas he was presented the best actor award for the roles in "Sanda Amawakai" and "Arungal".
Manorathne who holds a masters degree, is a visiting lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Over the past 15 years Jayalath Manorathne has played a key role as a cultural ambassador to Sri Lanka through his performances all over the world. During his acting and directing career he has immensely contributed towards taking Sri Lankan cultural values across our shores and out into the world. As a playwright, director and actor Jayalath Manorathne's work is praiseworthy, as his roles and creations have enhanced the creative capacity of Sri Lankan theatre lyrically and dramatically.
The Aviva NDB Award of Excellence has been presented to distinguished persons whose achievements are a source of encouragement and inspiration to Aviva NDB Wealth Planners with ambitious goals. Among the renowned personalities who have received the award since 2003 are Dr Lester James Peiris, Pandit W D Amaradeva, Deshamanya Chithrasena, Kalasuri Vajira, Dr Premasiri Khemadasa, Kalasuri Henry Jayasena, Nanda Malini, Kalasuri Sybil Wettasinghe, Malini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama, Dr D B Nihalsinha, Rohana Weerasinghe and Senaka Senanayake.
Shah Rouf, managing director of Aviva NDB said: "Aviva NDB is committed to excellence and we recognize and appreciate professionalism, skill and inherent talent in every sphere of work. That is why we honour extraordinary personalities who have attained the highest level of excellence in their chosen fields. We consider these individuals as true role models whose diligence and determination our Wealth Planners should emulate. We believe that Jayalath Manorathne's passion and vision to achieve great heights would be a true inspiration to all our Wealth Planners."
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