Raigam Tele'es () is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with Sri Lanka's television screen, each year by the Kingdom of Raigam, Sri Lanka, in recognition of the various contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan teledrama industry, television programs, and media sector in the preceding year. The Raigam Tele'es is one of the most popular television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 2005.
History Established to recognize those in the teledrama industry, including artists and technicians, the Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony is an awards ceremony held in Sri Lanka.
Awards given In 2005, the award ceremony commenced with 19 awards, which increased to 55 awards in 2022. The awards are categorized into five sections Best Award category, Popular Award category, Talent Awards, Prathibha Prabha Award and Janagatha Award Category. In 2010, Raigam Tele'es, the award for the popular mega teledrama was given to Ithin Eeta Passe directed by Chandika Wijayasena and produced by ITN and Nilwala Video Team. However, the award was not awarded in the following years.
Best awards Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Upcoming Actor Best Upcoming Actress Best Director Best Art Director Best Single Episode Best Makeup Artist Best Lighting & Cameraman Best Editor Best Music Director Best Teledrama Best Script Best Lyrics Best Singer Best Current Affairs Best Documentary Best Musical Program Best Quiz Program Best Reality Program Best Political Program Best Presenter Best Children's Program Best Educational Program Best Sports Program Best News Reporting Best News Reader
Awards based on popular vote Popular Actor Popular Actress Popular Teledrama
Talent awards Raigam Tele'es Merit Awards Raigam Tele'es Jury Awards
Special awards Prathibha Prabha Award Channel of the Year Award
Most Admired Awards (Janagatha awards) Most Admired Media Programme Most Admired Teledrama Most Admired Actor Most Admired Actress Most Admired Television Channel Most Admired News
Award ceremonies 1st Raigam Tele'es 2004 The first Raigam Tele'es Awards ceremony was celebrated on 8 December 2005 at the BMICH. During the ceremony, 19 awards were given under 2 categories. The teledramas that were telecast from January 1 to December 31, 2004, were selected for the ceremony. The teledramas should be less than 50 episodes and must be locally produced. The final date to submit the dramas with VHS or CD copies was August 30.
2nd Raigam Tele'es 2005 The second Raigam Tele'es Awards ceremony was celebrated in 2006. During the festival, Suminda Sirisena won the Best Actor award and Chandani Seneviratne won the Best Actress Award.
3rd Raigam Tele'es 2006 The third Raigam Tele'es Awards ceremony was celebrated on 18 May 2007 at the BMICH. The judging panel was headed by the Senior Lecturer of Kelaniya University, Dr Patrick Ratnayake. 30 Awards were awarded cash prizes.
4th Raigam Tele'es 2007 The fourth Raigam Tele'es Awards ceremony was celebrated on 9 May 2008 at 7.00 p.m. at the BMICH. Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara participated as the Chief Guest. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Vishwajith Gunasekara and the best teledrama actress was Chandani Seneviratne. In the popular award category, Amila Abeysekara won the most popular actor award, whereas Chathurika Peiris won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to veteran media personality Shan Wickremesinghe of TNL for his contribution to the Sri Lankan television media.
5th Raigam Tele'es 2008 The fifth Raigam Tele'es Awards ceremony was celebrated on 16 May 2009 at BMICH, where 38 awards were given ceremony under 4 categories. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Janak Premalal and the best teledrama actress was Nilmini Tennakoon. In the popular award category, Amila Abeysekara won the most popular actor award, whereas Nehara Peiris won the most popular actress award.< The Prathibha Prabha award was given to veteran director Titus Thotawatte. Out of 38 awards given, teledrama Karuwala Gedara won 8 awards including best actor, actress, director, script and television series.
6th Raigam Tele'es 2009 The Press Conference for the 6th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 9 February 2010 at the Galle Face hotel. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 7 May 2010 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Jayalath Manoratne and the best teledrama actress was Duleeka Marapana. In the popular award category, Menaka Rajapakse won the most popular actor award, whereas Nehara Peiris won the most popular actress award for the second consecutive time. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe for his contribution to the performing arts of Sri Lanka. Out of the awards given, the teledrama Karuwala Gedera won eight awards including best actor, best director, best cameraman and best art director.
7th Raigam Tele'es 2010 The Press Conference for the 7th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 18 January 2011 at the Grand Oriental Hotel. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 13 May 2011 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
8th Raigam Tele'es 2011 The Press Conference for the 8th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 10 January 2012 at the Grand Oriental Hotel. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 11 May 2012 at the Grand Banquet Hall of Waters Edge. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Bimal Jayakody and the best teledrama actress was Damitha Abeyratne. In the popular award category, Saranga Disasekara won the most popular actor award, whereas Nehara Peiris won the most popular actress award for the fourth consecutive year. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to the veteran actor, scriptwriter and novelist Tony Ranasinghe. Out of the awards given, the teledrama Swayanjatha won many awards including best actress, supporting actor, best female singer and best music director.
9th Raigam Tele'es 2012 The Press Conference for the 9th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 27 February 2013 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 17 May 2013 at the Water's Edge. 57 awards were given at the ceremony. 568 applications were considered for the awards, which is recorded as the largest number of applications received for the Raigam Tele'es. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Sriyantha Mendis and the best teledrama actress was Kanchana Mendis. In the popular award category, Saranga Disasekara won the most popular actor award for the second consecutive time, whereas Asha Edirisinghe won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to veteran director and artist Dharmasena Pathiraja.
10th Raigam Tele'es 2013 The Press Conference for the 10th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 11 February 2014 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. For the first time, a Nominations Ceremony was held on 6 June 2014 at the BMICH. Honourable Minister for Cultural Affairs T.B.Ekanayake took part as the chief guest. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 6 June 2014 at the Water's Edge with the participation of former Prime Minister and Senior Minister for Good Governance and Infrastructure Development Honorable Ratnasiri Wickramanayake as the chief guest. 56 awards were given under five categories. In the best award category, the Sumathi Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Jackson Anthony and the best teledrama actress was Nilukshi Fernando. In the popular award category, Jagath Chamila won the most popular actor award, whereas Asha Edirisinghe won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to the veteran dramatist Jayalath Manoratne. Out of 46 awards given, the teledrama Appachchi won 9 awards, including best director, script and television series.
11th Raigam Tele'es 2014 The Press Conference for the 11th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 27 January 2015 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The Nominations Ceremony was held on 26 May 2015 at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 12 June 2015 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. The chief guest of the Evening was the Former Prime Minister and Senior Minister for Good Governance and Infra-structure Facilities Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. 55 awards were given under five categories. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Vishwajith Gunasekara and the best teledrama actress was Chandani Seneviratne. In the popular award category, Saranga Disasekara won the most popular actor award, whereas Udari Warnakulasooriya won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to veteran actor Cyril Wickramage.
12th Raigam Tele'es 2015 The Nominations Ceremony for the 12th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 13 May 2016 at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 3 June 2016 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. Chief Guest of the Evening was His Excellency the President Maithreepala Sirisena. 47 awards were given under five categories. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Roshan Ravindra and the best teledrama actress was Menaka Peiris. In the popular award category, Saranga Disasekara won the most popular actor award, whereas Shalani Tharaka won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to the veteran cinema actor, Ravindra Randeniya. Out of 47 awards given, teledrama Daskon won 14 awards, including best supporting actor, director, script and television series.
13th Raigam Tele'es 2016 The Press Conference for the 13th Raigam Tele Awards Ceremony was held on 7 February 2017 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The Nominations Ceremony was held on 19 May 2017 at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. Previously the award ceremony was scheduled to be held on 3 June 2017 at Nelum Pokuna Theatre, but due to unfavorable weather conditions prevailing in the country, it was postponed. The Awards ceremony was celebrated on 24 June 2017 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. 57 awards were given under five categories. In the best award category, Raigam Tele'es Award for the best teledrama actor was won by Pubudu Chathuranga and the best teledrama actress was Umali Thilakarathne. In the popular award category, Ruwan Perera won the most popular actor award, whereas Nayanathara Wickramaarachchi won the most popular actress award. The Prathibha Prabha award was given to the Queen of Sinhala cinema, Malini Fonseka. Out of 38 awards given, the teledrama One Way won 14 awards, including best actor, actress, director, script and television series.
14th Raigam Tele'es 2017