COLOMBO : Tamil Poet Pottuvil Asmin, who has made distinctive contributions to Sri Lankan Tamil literature, poetry and film songwriting, has been honoured with the Eastern Province Young Artist State Award 2026 in the Performing Arts category.
The award was presented at the Eastern Province Literary Festival 2026, organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Eastern Province, held in Batticaloa on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
The ceremony took place at the Golden River Hotel in Batticaloa, where Pottuvil Asmin received the award trophy, certificate and cash prize. He was also honoured with a ceremonial shawl in recognition of his artistic contributions.
According to the 2026 awards list published by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Eastern Province, Pottuvil Asmin was selected in the Performing Arts category, representing the Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat Division.
The award recognises emerging artists who have made valuable contributions to the arts, literature and cultural heritage of the Eastern Province. This recognition marks another significant milestone in his long-standing artistic journey.
Five young artists were selected for awards in the Performing Arts category this year, with Pottuvil Asmin among the recipients.
A Distinguished Journey in Tamil Literature and the Arts
Poet Pottuvil Asmin is recognised in Sri Lankan Tamil literary circles as a poet, lyricist and media professional.
He began his literary journey in 1997 and has since continued to contribute to poetry, film songwriting and television broadcasting.
His notable poetry collections include Vidai Thedum Vinakkal (2001), Vidiyalin Raagangal (2002) and Paambugal Kulikkum Nadhi (2013). These works reflect his literary creativity and distinctive contribution to Tamil poetry.
From 2009 to 2022, he served as a programme producer and presenter at Vasantham TV, the Tamil-language channel of Sri Lanka’s national television service. During this period, he played an important role in producing arts and literary programmes.
His arts and literary magazine programme, Thoovanam, received three national awards, marking a significant achievement in his television career.
He has also expanded his creative work into film songwriting, contributing to the Sri Lankan and Indian Tamil film music industries.
Recipient of Numerous National and International Awards
Throughout his career, Pottuvil Asmin has received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to poetry and songwriting.
His accolades include the Presidential Award in 2001, National Awards for Best Lyricist in 2010 and 2011, and the Edison Award for Best Overseas Lyricist in 2015.
In 2019, he also received the Kaviyarasu Kannadasan Award in Cambodia.
These honours reflect his continued contribution to Tamil literature, music and the arts, helping bring Sri Lankan Tamil creative talent to wider national and international audiences.
51 Artists Honoured at the Literary Festival
A total of 51 individuals were selected for various awards at this year’s Eastern Province Literary Festival, organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Eastern Province. Of these, 41 were selected in the Tamil-language category and 10 in the Sinhala-language category.
The awards presented in the Tamil-language category included merit awards for outstanding books, Vithagar Awards for veteran artists, and Young Artist Awards for emerging talents.
Artists who have contributed to various fields, including literature, performing arts, media, fine arts, multidisciplinary arts, folklore and short films, were recognised at the festival.
A Proud Achievement for Pottuvil
Having begun his artistic journey in Pottuvil, Pottuvil Asmin has established a distinctive identity through his contributions to poetry, film songwriting and television media.
The Eastern Province Young Artiste State Award 2026 represents another important milestone in his artistic career and recognises his continued commitment to creative expression and Tamil cultural heritage.
