| Number: | 26 |
| Award: | Sarasaviya Awards |
| Date: | November 27, 1998 |
| Site: | Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka |
| Director: | Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara |
| Best Picture: | Bawa Duka |
| Most Wins: | Bawa Duka (9) |
| Network: | Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |
| Most Nominations: | Bawa Duka |
| Last: | 25th |
| Next: | 27th |
The 26th Sarasaviya Awards festival (Sinhala: 26වැනි සරසවිය සම්මාන උලෙළ), presented by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, was held to honor the best films of 1996 Sinhala cinema on November 27, 1998, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Her Excellency The President Chandrika Kumaratunga was the chief guest at the awards night.[1]
The film Bawa Duka won the nine prestigious awards including Best Film.
| Category | Film | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Bawa Duka | Ven. Vijayapura Pagngnananna Thero Jayaratne Wadduwage |
| Best Director | Bawa Duka | Dharmasiri Bandaranayake |
| Best Script Writer | Bawa Duka | Dharmasiri Bandaranayake |
| Best Actor | Bawa Duka | Jackson Anthony |
| Best Actress | Bawa Duka | Swarna Mallawarachchi |
| Best Supporting Actor | Bawa Duka | Ravindra Randeniya |
| Best Supporting Actress | Visidela | Grace Ariyavimal |
| Best Cinematographer (black n' white film) | Not Awarded | |
| Best Cinematographer (color film) | Bawa Duka | Lal Wickramaarchchi |
| Best Editor | Visidela | Elmo Halliday |
| Best Music Direction | Visidela | Rohana Weerasinghe |
| Best Art Direction | Bawa Duka | K. A. Milton Perera |
| Best Sound Effects | Bawa Karma | Lionel Gunaratne |
| Best Makeup | Bawa Duka | J. Suranimala |
| Best Lyricist | Visidela | H. D. Premaratne |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Visidela | Gunadasa Kapuge |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Savithrige Rathriya | Pradeepa Dharmadasa |
| Most Popular Film | Visidela | Soma Edirisinghe |
| Best Upcoming Actor | Not Awarded | |
| Best Upcoming Actress | Duwata Mawaka Misa | Ama Wijesekara |
| A. F. L. Star Plus Award | contribution to Sinhala cinema | Tissa Abeysekara |
| Rana Thisara Award | contribution to Sinhala cinema | Stanley Perera |
| Angeline Gunathilake | ||
| Special Merit Awards | Bawa Karma | Simon Navagattegama |
| Sudu Akka | Sanoja Bibile | |
| Tharanaya | Daya Thennakoon | |
| Puthuni Mata Wasana | Kusala B. Perera | |
| Apaye Thappara 84000k | Dinesh Priyasad | |
| Savithrige Rathriya | Smantha Neelawathura |
| Category | Film |
|---|---|
| Popular films included in the festival | Visidela |
| Ragaye Unusuma | |
| Aege Vairaya 2 | |
| Yasoma | |
| Bawa Duka | |
| Duwata Mawaka Misa | |
| Sudu Akka |