| Number: | 25 |
| Award: | Sarasaviya Awards |
| Date: | April 2, 1998 |
| Site: | Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka |
| Director: | Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara |
| Best Picture: | Loku Duwa |
| Most Wins: | Loku Duwa (7) |
| Network: | Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |
| Most Nominations: | Loku Duwa |
| Last: | 24th |
| Next: | 26th |
The 25th Sarasaviya Awards festival (Sinhala: 25වැනි සරසවිය සම්මාන උලෙළ), presented by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, was held to honor the best films of 1996 Sinhala cinema on April 2, 1998, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Minister C. V. Gunaratne was the chief guest at the awards night.[1]
The film Loku Duwa won the seven prestigious awards including Best Film.
| Category | Film | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Loku Duwa | Geetha Kumarasinghe |
| Best Director | Loku Duwa | Sumitra Peries |
| Best Script Writer | Bithu Sithuvam | K. D. Nicholas |
| Best Actor | Bithu Sithuvam | Joe Abeywickrama |
| Best Actress | Bithu Sithuvam | Dilani Abeywardana |
| Best Supporting Actor | Loku Duwa | Kamal Addararachchi |
| Best Supporting Actress | Loku Duwa | Iranganie Serasinghe |
| Best Cinematographer (black n' white film) | Sebe Mithura | Lalith Gunawardena |
| Best Cinematographer (color film) | Loku Duwa | William Blake |
| Best Editor | Sihina Deshayen | Stanley de Alwis |
| Best Music Direction | Sihina Deshayen | Ernie Peiris Boodee Keerthisena |
| Best Art Direction | Sihina Deshayen | Mahinda Abeysekera Mahendra Perera Boodee Keerthisena |
| Best Sound Effects | Sihina Deshayen | Arun Bose |
| Best Makeup | Sihina Deshayen | Vasantha Vittachchi |
| Best Lyricist | Bithu Sithuvam | Sunil Ariyaratne |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Bithu Sithuvam | Gunadasa Kapuge |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Amanthaya | Nipunika Jagoda |
| Most Popular Film | Loku Duwa | People's vote |
| Best Upcoming Actor | Sihina Deshayen | Roger Seneviratne |
| Best Upcoming Actress | Soora Daruwo | Judy de Silva |
| Special Jury Award | Sihina Deshayen | Boodee Keerthisena |
| Rana Thisara Award | contribution to Sinhala cinema | W. A. B. de Silva |
| Clarice de Silva | ||
| Merit Awards | Soora Daruwo | Manike Attanayake |
| Loku Duwa | Ama Wijesekara | |
| Amanthaya | Douglas Ranasinghe | |
| Mana Mohini | Freddie Silva | |
| Mana Mohini | Kalawathie | |
| Amanthaya | Nihal Fernando |
| Category | Film |
|---|---|
| Popular films included in the festival | Loku Duwa |
| Thunweni Aehe | |
| Sihina Deshayen | |
| Cheriyo Darling | |
| Api Baya Naha | |
| Mana Mohini | |
| Bithu Sithuvam |
| Category | Film |
|---|---|
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Michael Sannas Liyanage |
| D. T. Fernando | |
| Premanath Moraes | |
| Mabel Blythe | |
| Leticia Peiris | |
| Florida Jayalath | |
| Sumith Bibile | |
| Harun Lanthra | |
| Stanley Perera | |
| Rita Ratnayake | |
| Millie Kahandawala | |
| Girley Gunawardana | |
| Udula Dabare | |
| Christy Leonard Perera | |
| Shesha Palihakkara | |
| Vincent Vaas | |
| Kanthi Gunatunga | |
| Ananda Weerakoon | |
| Baptist Fernando | |
| Tissa Nagodawithana |