The Kala Bhushana State Awards Ceremony was initiated in 1984 to recognize and appreciate artists who, despite being from remote areas of the island, have preserved traditional art and craftsmanship through their creations and innovations.
Often, these artists do not receive national recognition, which led to the establishment of this award. Since its inception, the Kala Bhushana State Award, which is the highest honor bestowed on a Sri Lankan artist, has been continuously awarded.
Currently, applications are called through public advertisements, and artists identified by regional cultural officers are also invited to apply. These applications are then forwarded to the District Secretariat offices, where a panel of judges evaluates them and selects artists from all districts. A total of 200 artists are chosen to receive an award, certificate, and cash prize.
Preparations are currently underway for the 40th Kala Bhushana State Awards Ceremony, scheduled to take place in 2025. Public advertisements, television awareness programs, and cultural officers stationed at regional secretariat offices across the island have been involved in disseminating information and collecting applications. These applications are then evaluated at the district level by a nine-member panel chaired by the District Secretary or a designated officer. The most qualified artists from each district are selected, and their information is forwarded to the Department of Cultural Affairs. Based on this information, the Kala Bhushana State Awards for this year are scheduled to be held in December 2025.
