The 19th Presidential Film Awards festival (Sinhala: 19 වැනි ජනාධිපති සම්මාන උලෙළ), presented by the Sri Lanka Film Corporation with the collaboration of the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media,[1] was held on July 29, 1996, at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
[2] His Excellency The President Maithripala Sirisena was the chief guest at the awards night.
[6] The Swarnasinghe Lifetime Award was presented by President to veteran artists Ravindra Randeniya, Nita Fernando and Sugathapala Senarath Yapa.
Meanwhile, Anoma Janadari and film director Sanjeewa Pushpakumara received the Vishwa Keerthi Award from the President for their acting talent.
Dayananda, Swarna Kahawita, Sunil Soma Peiris and Alexander Fernando.