This tweet by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, shows him attending the funeral for Sri Lankan film producer Lester James Peries. Lester James Peries wasn’t just any film producer though. His work was so well received that in 2007 he was awarded the Sri Lankabhimanya, Sri Lanka’s highest civilian award, in cinema. Only 8 people have ever received the award since its establishment in 1986 when it was awarded to Ranasinghe Premadasa, the president who was assassinated by the LTTE in 1993. The most recent one was awarded posthumously in 2017 to musician W.D. Amaradeva. As president, Sirisena can award this honor. Will he honor any others during his presidency, and if so then who?
Help Received: Lester James Peries and Sri Lankabhimanya wikipedia pages