Acting Minister of Defence Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene also attended the event held at the Committee Room 'A' of the BMICH last evening.

The event had been organized in view of the 30th death anniversary of the late Esmond Wickremesinghe who is the father of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Esmond Wickremesinghe was the former Editorial Director of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), Defence Media said.

Prime Minister Wichremesinghe presented the 'Esmond Wickremesinghe Award for Media Freedom' to P. Sarawanapawan, Director of Udayan Publications.

The selection jury consisted of Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Wasantha Kotuwelle, Saman Athaudahetti and Prem Dissanayake.

The Keynote Speech was delivered by former Editor in Chief of 'The Hindu' newspaper N. Ram while founding Editor of Divaina Edmond Ranasinghe made the commemoration speech.

Religious dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps. ministers, deputy ministers and a large number of distinguished guests were present at the occasion.