The 19th ‘Raigam Tele’es’, tele-award ceremony to recognize the talent of the television media opened its application process last week at Sri Lanka Foundation in Colombo.

Chairman, Raigam Group of Companies,Dr. Ravi Liyanage said that a wide range of cinema and television festivals are conducted at both domestic and international levels in order to uplift the quality and creativity of relevant products through appreciation of good work done by the artists, producers and institutions, annually. Further these festivals result in setting benchmarks for the industry. Sri Lankans experienced the first ever indigenous film festival, Sarasaviya Cinema Award Ceremony on 9th May 1964 and since then a few more award ceremonies have been introduced by the government as well as non-governmental bodies, of which some are not visible regularly while few other are not in existence today.

In 2005 Raigam Tele’es was launched by the famous local business conglomerate in FMCG industry, the Raigam Group of Companies to fill the gap that had been created in conducting a regular award ceremony for the television industry due to the unstable situation in the country. Today, Raigam Tele’es has become the most prominent television festival in Sri Lanka with the record of conducting such an event consecutively for eighteen years. The highest quality standards maintain in the judging process, innovative presentation and broad coverage through all most all the television channels and social media are the success factors of the festival. Raigam Tele’es has pioneered in introducing many features to the industry including announcement of nominations at a grand function prior to the main event. While the award winners are benefitted with cash awards, all the nominees are benefitted with a valuable insurance cover and testimonials.

Raigam Tele’es holds the record for conducting the festival for seventeen years without any interruption. The latest was conducted as a combined festival for 2020 and 2021 in order to cover up the delayed festival for 2020 due to the COVID Pandemic.

An independent non-commercial body under the name “Raigam Tele’es Secretariat” has been established for conducting the event under the guidance of an eminent panel of artists and academics.

Selection process commences with calling applications for awards by a public announcement and also an invitation to all television channels to participate the festival with prospective entries. All entries for awards must be certified by the respective Channel Head that they were telecast on the channel during the relevant period. Repeat telecasts and programs telecast on paid channels are not eligible for awards.

Applications / Entries for Raigam Tele’es 2022 will be accepted up to 15th January 2023. Those who are expecting to apply for the awards are kindly requested to contact Raigam Tele’es Secretariat on 0707 061602/ 0707 061508 immediately.Application forms can be obtained from respective TV channels, contacting above telephone numbers or visiting the official web site www.raigamtelees.lk

All the entries are carefully scrutinized by a competent and independent panel of judges. The panel of judges chaired by Buddadasa Galappatty comprises Prof. Rohini Paranawithana, Ravindra Guruge, Dr. Hansamala Ritigahapola, Jayanath Gunawardhena, Aruna Gunarathna, Ranga Dassanayake, Saman Wickremarachchi, Chaminda Welagedara and B. H. Abdul Hameed.

Managing Director, Raigam Group of Companies Kishan Theodore, Senior Director, Raigam Group of Companies Ganaka Amarasinghe, Chairman, Panel of Judges Buddhadasa Galappatti , Snr. DGM – Digitalization, Deposit Mobilization & Marketing, Sampath Bank Tharaka Ranwala, CEO, Mobitel Chandika Vitharena and Zonal Manager, Allianz Insurance also addressed the event. Other sponsors of Raigam Tele’es were represented by Sidatha Kodikar (Managing Director, Imaging Entertainment), Miss Nirushi Theodore (Assistant Brand Manager- Aarya, Raigam Group), Nayana Karunarathna (Chairman, Salon Nayana) Deemal Jayasooriya (Design-Factory and Corporate Manager, Stone & String (Pvt) Ltd.)