Three legends honoured with lifetime achievement awards

The State Visual Arts Festival 2025 was held in February 2026 owing to postponement caused by cyclone Ditwah.

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It was held under the patronage of Dr Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs at Suhurupaya, Battaramulla on February 18, 2026.

Organised by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arts Council of Sri Lanka and the State Panel of Visual Arts, it celebrated eminent visual artists who have dedicated their creativity to the advancement and brilliance of the Sri Lankan Visual Arts Sector.

Winners of the 2025 State Visual Arts Festival were presented with awards and Professor Sarath Chandrajeewa (b.1955), Lal Hegoda (b.1947) and Nihal Fernando (1927-2015) were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Sarath Chandrajeewa (b.1955)

Educated at Ragala Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya and Karawita Central College, he obtained his first degree in Sculpture from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya in 1978. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Bronze Sculpture Casting at the Royal Academy of Arts, a Master's Degree in Sculpture at the Moscow State Academic Arts Institute and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree at the Moscow State Institute of Art Research.