News
Raigam Tele’es celebrates 20 years: Honoring excellence in Lankan TV industry
Recognizing and appreciating excellence in the realm of television and cinema, various festivals, both domestic and international, serve as platforms to commend outstanding work by artists, producers, and institutions. In Sri Lanka, such recognition commenced with the inaugural Sarasaviya Cinema Award Ceremony on May 9, 1964, paving the way for several subsequent award ceremonies organized by governmental and non-governmental bodies, contributing to the industry’s growth.
In 2005, the Raigam Group of Companies introduced the Raigam Tele’es to bridge the gap created by the country’s unstable situation, establishing a regular award ceremony for the television industry. Over the past nineteen years, Raigam Tele’es has evolved into Sri Lanka’s most prestigious television festival, maintaining high-quality standards in judging, presentation, and extensive coverage across television channels and social media.
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Raigam Tele’es, a celebration of its enduring legacy and influence in the television industry. The festival’s sustainability is bolstered by a robust partnership with Sampath Bank, a key pillar supporting its continued success.
The festival’s selection process begins with public applications and invitations extended to television channels to submit their prospective entries. Entries, certified by respective Channel Heads for airing during the relevant period, undergo thorough scrutiny. Notably, repeat telecasts and programs aired on paid channels are ineligible for awards. The deadline for Raigam Tele’es 2023 entries is January 15, 2024, with a competent and independent panel of judges meticulously evaluating all submissions.
The credibility of any award ceremony lies in the integrity of its selection process. The Raigam Tele’es Secretariat has appointed a panel comprising distinguished academics, artists, and critics in the field, chaired by Buddadasa Galappatty, ensuring an esteemed and impartial judging process.
The festival extended its commitment beyond an annual award ceremony through its Corporate Social Responsibility program, ‘Raigam-Sampath Yuthukama.’ Aimed at assisting physically impaired artists, the initiative provided financial benefits to veteran artists Jakson Anthoney and teledrama director Nalan Mendis. Additionally, all nominees received medical and life insurance coverage for a year, demonstrating the festival’s broader commitment to artist welfare.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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