Jayalath Manorathne receives ‘Aviva NDB Award of Excellence’

The Aviva NDB Award of Excellence was presented to veteran actor cum dramatist Jayalath Manorathne at the AVIVA NDB Sales Conference held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre recently.

Eminent persons who have taken the nation’s arts and culture to greater heights are felicitated at the annually held sales convention to reaffirm Aviva NDB’s commitment to excellence.

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 to the delight of Sri Lankan audiences.

In 1974 he won the Best Actor Award 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.

Moving 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 he has played a key role as a cultural ambassador for Sri Lanka through his performances all over the world. As a playwright, director and actor Jayalath Manorathne’s work has been acclaimed.

The Aviva NDB Award of excellence has been presented to distinguished persons whose achievements are an 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 Peries, 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.

Managing Director of Aviva NDB Shah Rouf 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 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.