| Number: | 8 |
| Award: | Sarasaviya Awards |
| Date: | March 29, 1980 |
| Site: | Colombo New Theater Grounds, Sri Lanka |
| Best Picture: | Handaya |
| Most Wins: | Handaya (7) |
| Network: | Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |
| Most Nominations: | Handaya |
| Last: | 7th |
| Next: | 9th |
The 8th Sarasaviya Awards festival (Sinhala: 8වැනි සරසවිය සම්මාන උලෙළ), presented by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, was held to honor the best films of 1979 Sinhala cinema on March 29, 1980, at the Colombo New Theater Grounds, Sri Lanka. It was held after ten years gap due to the political unrest prevailed in the country. Minister of Lands, Land Development and Mahaweli Development Gamini Dissanayake was the chief guest at the awards night.[1]
The film Handaya won the most awards with seven including Best Film.
| Category | Film | Recipient | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Handaya | Titus Thotawatte | |
| Best Director | Handaya | Titus Thotawatte | |
| Best Actor | Sarungale | Gamini Fonseka | |
| Best Actress | Hingana Kolla | Malani Fonseka | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Handaya | Henry Jayasena | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Sarungale | Farina Lai | |
| Best Script Writer | Handaya | Titus Thotawatte | |
| Handaya | Andrew Jayamanne | ||
| Best Editor | Handaya | Titus Thotawatte | |
| Best Sound Effects | Palagetiyo | George Manatunga | |
| Best Music Direction | Palagetiyo | D. R. Pieris | |
| Best Lyricist | Handaya | Arisen Ahubudu | |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Muwan Palessa | W. D. Amaradeva | |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Monarathenna | Nanda Malini | |
| Most Popular Actor | People's vote | Gamini Fonseka | |
| Most Popular Actress | People's vote | Malani Fonseka |
| Category | Film |
|---|---|
| Popular Awards from Reader Vote | |
| Muwan Palessa | |
| Nuwan Renu | |
| Monarathenna | |
| Hingana Kolla | |
| Sarungale | |
| Handaya | |
| Palagetiyo |