Maharaja Media Network Dominates State Television Awards with 44 Accolades

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Maharaja Media Network swept the prestigious State Television Awards, bagging 44 accolades

for Sirasa TV, News 1st, Shakthi TV and TV1

On Monday (22), The Maharaja Media Network bagged multiple awards for the years 2021 to 2024. The following night, the network bagged over a dozen awards for the year 2025.

State Awards for the year 2025:

Amila Munasinghe from Newsfirst won the award for Best Male News Presenter - Sinhala

Omaya Kovilagodage from Newsfirst won the award for Best Female News Presenter - Sinhala

Jeffrey Jebadarshan from Newsfirst won the award for Best News Presenter - Tamil
and Annesttha Vimalaraj of Newsfirst won the award for Best News Presenter -Tamil

Naveksha Gunasekara of Newsfirst won the award for Best News Presenter - English as well as the award for Best Program Presenter - English 

Selvaraj Vinodan won the award for Best Magazine Programme for Good Morning Sri Lanka on Shakthi TV 

Five Million Money Drop, Directed by Dhammika Fonseka won the award for Best Multi-Camera Production Program

An Awards of Merit was presented to S. Wimalanathan and Viraj Jayamanna for Best Song Visualization for Shakthi Crown.

Shakthi TV won the award for the best channel in the Dramatic Teledrama category- Tamil

The teledrama Nagara-nodigal, which aired on Shakthi TV, won the award for the best teledrama in Tamil for the year 2025.

The award for Best Tamil Actor went to Shemil Klinson for his role in the teledrama Nagaranodigal aired on Shakthi TV.

The teledrama Nagaranodigal, which aired on Shakthi TV, won 8 awards including Best Teledrama, Sound Design, Actor, Editing, Camerawork, Art Direction, Screenplay, and Direction 

The State Television Awards ceremony for the years 2021 to 2024 was held yesterday, during which Sirasa TV, News First, Shakthi TV, and TV One were honoured with 20 Awards of Excellence and 6 Certificates of Merit.

Award Winners at the State Television Awards 2021 -2024:

Best Investigative News Reporting (2021): Vindana Prasad Karunaratne – News First

Best Investigative Reporting in Tamil Media for 2021: Riyas Harris – News First

Best Music Direction for a Teledrama for 2021: Varl Prajiv – Shakthi TV

Best Tamil Music Program for 2021: Shakthi Super Star – Kanagaraj Dinesh Kumar

Best Tamil Documentary Program (Tamil) (2021): Sudarshan Kanagaraja – Shakthi TV

Best Investigative News Reporting (2022): Lakmal Kiridigala – News First

Best Program Promoting National Unity in Sinhala for 2023: Pathikada – Asoka Dias – News First

Best Documentary Program (English) (2024): Merit Certificate – Asoka Dias – News First

Best Program Promoting National Unity (English) (2023): Sonali Wanigabaduge – News First

The Special Jury Award for the best musical programme (2022) was won by "Inbox", directed by Dhanesh Upul and Viraj Jayamanne.

The award for the best musical programme, in Sinhala, (2023) was awarded to the programme සජ්ජායනා, directed by Dhanesh Upul, Viraj Jayamanne and Saman Dhammika.

Sanda Wathura, directed by Athula Peiris and telecast on Sirasa TV, clinched the award for best single-episode teledrama in 2024.

Best Actress in a Teledrama: Thissuri Yuwanika

Best Actor in a Teledrama: Dhanuka Dilshan

Best Television Teledrama Scripwriter: "7K" - Kanagaraja Dinesh Kumar

Best Documentary Program (Tamil) (2021): Sudarshan Kanagaraja - Shakthi TV

Best Television Film Broadcast in Tamil Media: "Adhira" Film