25th Sarasaviya Awards
The 25th Sarasaviya Awards festival, 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.
The film Loku Duwa won the seven prestigious awards including Best Film.
Awards
| 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 | Sebe Mithura | Lalith Gunawardena |
| Best Cinematographer | 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 |
| Rana Thisara Award | contribution to Sinhala cinema | Clarice de Silva |
| Merit Awards | Soora Daruwo | Manike Attanayake |
| Merit Awards | Loku Duwa | Ama Wijesekara |
| Merit Awards | Amanthaya | Douglas Ranasinghe |
| Merit Awards | Mana Mohini | Freddie Silva |
| Merit Awards | Mana Mohini | Kalawathie |
| Merit Awards | Amanthaya | Nihal Fernando |
| Category | Film |
| Popular films included in the festival | Loku Duwa |
| Popular films included in the festival | Thunweni Aehe |
| Popular films included in the festival | Sihina Deshayen |
| Popular films included in the festival | Cheriyo Darling |
| Popular films included in the festival | Api Baya Naha |
| Popular films included in the festival | Mana Mohini |
| Popular films included in the festival | Bithu Sithuvam |
| Category | Film |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Michael Sannas Liyanage |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | D. T. Fernando |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Premanath Moraes |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Mabel Blythe |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Leticia Peiris |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Florida Jayalath |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Sumith Bibile |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Harun Lanthra |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Stanley Perera |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Rita Ratnayake |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Millie Kahandawala |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Girley Gunawardana |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Udula Dabare |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Christy Leonard Perera |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Shesha Palihakkara |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Vincent Vaas |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Kanthi Gunatunga |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Ananda Weerakoon |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Baptist Fernando |
| Worship Pooja Special Awards for Cinema Career | Tissa Nagodawithana |