News
Raigam Tele’es announces 2024 Season: Celebrating excellence in Lankan TV
The Raigam Tele’es Secretariat last week announced the launch of the 2024 edition of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious television awards, marking its 21st year of celebrating excellence in the local television industry.
Making the announcement during a press conference in Colombo, Dr. Ravi Liyanage, Chairman of the Raigam Group of Companies, said that Raigam Tele’es 2024 will honour exceptional television content aired throughout the year, recognizing both established and emerging talents across various categories.
Launched in 2005, Raigam Tele’es has evolved into a cornerstone of the Sri Lankan entertainment industry. Over the years, it has become the leading television awards event in the country, recognizing outstanding achievements in television production, acting, and technical excellence. Dr. Liyanage emphasized that Raigam Tele’es has become more than just an award ceremony; it serves as a catalyst for growth and recognition within the television industry, offering a platform to celebrate artistic talent, inspire future content creators, and promote creativity.
The festival is known for its rigorous selection process, managed by a respected panel of judges, including Buddadasa Galappatty, Prof. Ajantha Hapuarachchi, Prof. Rohini Paranawithana, Dr. Hansamala Ritigahapola, Jayanath Gunawardhena, Ranga Dassanayake, Saman Wickremarachchi, Sudath Dewapriya, and BH Abdul Hameed. Public participation is crucial in determining the winners in the Most Popular and Most Viewed categories, with the Most Popular awards decided through an SMS poll, and the Most Viewed awards based on nationwide research.
For 2024, Raigam Tele’es will introduce a Nomination Evening, a glamorous, Oscar-style event to recognize all nominees before the final awards ceremony. This tradition, introduced by Raigam Tele’es, ensures that all nominees are celebrated and provided with valuable insurance benefits, including one-year hospitalization and life insurance coverage.
Raigam Tele’es will present awards in a variety of categories, including Tele-Drama Excellence, Television Media Excellence, Most Popular Actor, Actress, and Tele-drama. Additional awards will be given for the Most Viewed Tele-Drama, Television Program, and News Bulletin, along with special Awards of Appreciation for veterans and influential figures in the industry. Additionally, the Raigam-Sampath Yuthukama CSR initiative provides financial and medical support to physically impaired artists.
The festival is supported by key partners, including Sampath Bank, Dialog Television, Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd., and Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC. Applications for the 2024 season are now open, and television channels, creators, and artists can submit their entries through the official Raigam Tele’es Secretariat. The submission deadline is January 15, 2025. For more details or to submit entries, visit the official Raigam Tele’es website at www.raigamtelees.lk or contact the Secretariat at 074 4061 508 / 074 4062 254.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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