Wijeya Newspapers Limited Clinches Four Honours at Diamond Excellence Awards 2026
By: Yashmitha Sritheran
Wijeya Newspapers Limited celebrated a successful evening at the Diamond Excellence Awards 2026, securing four prestigious honours at the ceremony held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo. The accolades recognised excellence across journalism, editorial leadership, television and digital media, with prominent personalities and platforms from the Wijeya Newspapers Limited portfolio honoured for their contribution, leadership and impact on Sri Lanka’s evolving media landscape.
Among the evening’s key honours was the Excellence in Print and Digital Media Innovation and National Impact Award, presented to Rishini Weeraratne, Editor of The Sun, Daily Mirror, and Head of Social Media at Wijeya Newspapers Limited.
The award recognised her contribution to innovation across print and digital media, as well as the wider national impact of her work. The recognition also reflects the growing importance of bringing traditional journalism and emerging digital platforms together to reach and engage increasingly diverse audiences. As Rishini currently divides her time between London and Colombo, the award was accepted on her behalf by her mother, Sharika Weeraratne.
Danu Innasithamby, Head of Channel at HI!! TV, was also among the evening’s major winners, receiving the Media Personality of the Year Award.
A prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s media and entertainment industry, Danu is widely recognised as one of the country’s leading trilingual media personalities. His ability to engage audiences across Sinhala, Tamil and English has become a defining feature of his career. The award recognises his contribution to television and contemporary media through engaging conversations, entertainment and compelling storytelling.
In another significant achievement, Ashanthi Warunasuriya, Editor of Sirikatha, was honoured with the Diamond Excellence: Sri Lanka’s Most Influential Female Editor 2026 award.
The recognition celebrates Ashanthi’s editorial leadership and influence across print, online and social media. Her work across Lankadeepa Online and Sirikatha, together with her contribution to social media, reflects the increasingly multiplatform nature of modern journalism. The award also highlights the important role women editors continue to play in shaping Sri Lanka’s media industry and its engagement with audiences.
Wijeya Newspapers Limited’s digital platforms also earned recognition during the evening, with Lankadeepa Online and Sirikatha Online jointly receiving the Diamond Excellence in Nation Building Through Digital Journalism 2026 award.
The accolade recognises the role of digital journalism beyond the delivery of news and information, highlighting its contribution to informed public discourse, audience empowerment and nation building through responsible and accessible journalism.
Collectively, the four honours reflect the breadth of Wijeya Newspapers Limited’s presence across Sri Lanka’s media landscape, spanning print, television and digital journalism while recognising both individual leadership and institutional achievement. The Diamond Excellence Awards 2026 brought together distinguished personalities and organisations to celebrate achievement, leadership, innovation and national impact across a range of sectors.
For Wijeya Newspapers Limited, securing four honours at this year’s ceremony marks another significant milestone, reflecting the organisation’s continued commitment to adapting to changing audience needs while strengthening its presence across traditional and emerging media platforms. The recognition also underscores the contribution of its journalists, editors, media personalities and digital platforms to an industry that continues to evolve rapidly, reinforcing Wijeya Newspapers Limited’s position as a prominent force in Sri Lanka’s media landscape.
