MUMBAI: Nihal Perera has been selected as the "Sri Lankan Idol 2007" at the Qatar Gee Tharu Dahana, a talent search for singers conducted amongst the Sri Lankan community in Qatar by the Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee (SLCC) and Sri Lankan Embassy.Lional Gunawardena was adjudged first runner up while Rohan Senarath was selected second runner up.

The finale was held last weekend at the Shantiniketan School grounds.The panel of judges was led by Sangeeth Nipun Dr Sanath Nandasiri, Malkanthi Nandasiri, Jagath Wickremasinghe.The winner received a crystal trophy from the Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee, an air ticket from SriLankan Airlines and gifts from New White Oceanic Restaurants and Al Mana Freight Services respectively. Noted artistes Sanath and Malkanthi Nandasiri, Jagath Wickremasinghe, Priya Suriyasena, teenage singer Namita Kaur and Sudagaran regaled the audience with popular Sinhala, Hindi and Tamil songs.