A felicitation ceremony, organized by the Department of Sinhala, University of Kelaniya, to honour retired Professor Somaratne Balasooriya of the Department of Sinhala, who received the prestigious Sāhitya Ratna Award at the State Literary Awards 2025, was held on the 10^th  of October 2025 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Humanities of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya.

The event was graced by the presence of Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guest, while other distinguished guests included Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Emeritus Professor Kulatilaka Kumarasinghe; Emeritus Professor Gamini Dela Bandara; Emeritus Professor Gunawardhana Nanayakkara; Emeritus Professor K. M. P. Kulasekara; and Emeritus Professor Herath Chadana Bandara.

The keynote address was delivered by retired Professor Jinadasa Danansooriya, recipient of the Sāhitya Ratna Award at the State Literary Awards 2024, who gave an inspiring speech on the literary journey of Professor Balasooriya. During the ceremony, Professor Balasooriya was presented with a token of honour by Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya.

The event was also attended by Senior Professor Swarna Ihalagama, Head of the Department of Sinhala, along with Chair and Senior Professor Nimal Karunaratne, other academic staff members of the Department of Sinhala, and members of the university community.