Popular Awards are awards presented annually by the Youth Star Entertainment in Sri Lanka in recognition of individuals’ excellence in the field of cinema, television, social media, music, and media. The Popular Awards ceremony is considered to be one of the most prestigious television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 2023.
History The Popular awards ceremony began in 2023 with the leadership of Geethanjana de Costa. Awards were presented recognizing outstanding individuals across various fields to acknowledge and bring forward their value and efforts. Apart from De Costa, Sunil Costa, Nithya Devindi, Malkanthi Jayasinghe and Lasantha Gunawardena served as the executive committee for Popular Awards 2024. The award ceremony has been witnessed 3 times consecutively.
Awards Given In 2023, the award ceremony commenced with awards under 38 categories, which were increased up to 69 categories with 83 awards in 2024. The awards are categorized into nine sections – Teledrama, Film, Television, Business, Social Media, YouTube, Radio, Music and Special category.
Award Ceremonies
Popular Awards 2023 The first British Way Popular Awards ceremony was celebrated on 13 October 2023 at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, where awards for 38 categories were presented. In the film category, award for the most popular film actress was won by Udari Warnakulasooriya and the most popular film actor was won by Ranjan Ramanayake. Sashika Nisansala won the award for the most popular singer under music category. In the teledrama category, award for the most popular teledrama actor was won by Saranga Disasekara and the most popular teledrama actress was won by Tharindi Fernando.
Popular Awards 2024 The second Calin Popular Awards ceremony was celebrated in 2024 at the Waters Edge, where 83 awards were given at the ceremony under nine main categories. In the film category, award for the most popular film actress was won by Chulakshi Ranathunga and the most popular film actor was won by Akhila Dhanuddara. In the teledrama category, award for the most popular teledrama actor was won by Sajitha Anthony and the most popular teledrama actress was won by Dinakshie Priyasad. Award for the Most Popular Youth Tele Drama Actress was won by Michelle Dilhara and the Most Popular Youth Tele Drama Actor was won by Randika Gunathilaka.
Popular Awards 2025 The third Calin Popular Awards ceremony was celebrated in September 10, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Monarch Imperial Hotel in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, where 106 awards were given at the ceremony under nine main categories. The press conference held on 1 July 2025 at Water’s Edge Hotel. Voting for the awards were concluded on 7 September 2025. In the film category, award for the most popular film actress was won by Udari Warnakulasooriya and the most popular film actor was won by Priyantha Sirikumara. In the teledrama category, award for the most popular teledrama actor was won by Chameera Liyanage and the most popular teledrama actress was won by Shalani Tharaka. Award for the Most Popular Youth Tele Drama Actress was won by Michelle Dilhara and the Most Popular Youth Tele Drama Actor was won by Sajitha Anthony, both for the second consecutive time.
2023 British Way Popular Awards ceremony Television Category Most popular television program – Hiru star (Hiru TV) Most popular male news anchor – Najith Matharage (ITN) Most popular female news anchor – Madhunika Karaputugala (ITN) Most popular program presenter – Chamuditha Samarawickrama (Hiru TV) Most popular television news channel – Hiru TV Most popular television channel – Hiru TV
Radio category Most popular radio program – DJ Ara & Pasbara (Hiru FM) Most popular radio news presenter Male – Pubudu Chathuranga (FM Derana) Most popular radio news presenter Female – Oshadi Siriwardene (FM Derana) Most popular radio news channel – Hiru FM Most popular radio channel – Hiru FM
Special category Most popular male dancer – Lalith Parakum Most popular female dancer – AK Twins Most popular wedding photographer – Dhanuka Kumarasinghe Most popular beautician – Chandimal Jayasinghe Most popular salon – Tony & Guy Most popular teacher – Dinesh Muthugala Most popular sportsperson – Wanindu Hasaranga
Social Media Category Most popular TikTok Account – Vanisha Mapitiyage Most popular Instagram Account – Piumi Hansamali Most popular Facebook Page – I Love You Most popular Social media icon – Wasthi Productions
YouTube category Most popular comedy channel – Vini Production Most popular cookery channel – Wild Cookbook Most popular Travel channel – Travel with Wife Most popular Educational channel – DP Education Most popular Personal & Vlog Channel – Shanudrie Priyasad Most popular Tech channel – Chanux Bro
Music category Most popular music band – Line One with Shane Zing Most popular male singer – Chamara Weerasinghe Most popular female singer – Sashika Nisansala Most popular song – Ale Man (Kanchana Anuradhi) Most popular cover song – Piyamanne (Harsha Maduranga & Abishek Geethadewa)
Teledrama category Most popular teledrama actor – Saranga Disasekara (Paata Kurullo) Most Popular teledrama actress – Tharindi Fernando Most popular teledrama – Sangeethe (TV Derana) Most popular teledrama song – "Komaliya" (Jaanu)
Film category Most popular film actor – Ranjan Ramanayake Most popular film actress – Udari Warnakulasooriya Most popular film – Kadira Divyaraja Most popular film song – "Bombe Motai" (Gajaman)
2024 Calin Popular Awards ceremony Television Category Most popular political program – Salakuna (Hiru TV) Most popular television Program – Hiru star (Hiru TV) Most popular male News Anchor – Saranga Pathirana (Hiru TV) Most popular female news anchor – Ishara Samarasinghe (Swarnavahini) Most popular male Program Presenter – Peshala Manoj (TV Derana) Most popular female program Presenter – Thilini Poornima (ITN) Most popular television news channel – Hiru TV Most popular upcoming television channel – Supreme TV Most popular television channel – Hiru TV
Radio category Most popular radio program – DJ Ara & Pasbara (Hiru FM) Most popular radio drama – Kana Madiri Rathriya (Shree FM) Most popular radio news presenter Male – Asanka Shrimal. (Shree FM) Most popular radio news presenter Female – Nimasha Amararathna (Hiru FM) Most popular male radio program presenter – Gayan Gamlath (Siyatha FM) Most popular female radio program presenter – Bhashini Samarasinghe (Shree FM) Most popular radio news channel – Hiru FM Most popular upcoming radio channel – Shaa FM Most popular radio channel – Hiru FM
Special category Most popular male dancer – Basker Prakash Most popular female dancer – Damithri Subasingha Most popular dancing group – Chandana Wickramasingha & the dancers guild Sri Lanka Most popular male event compere – Moksha Prasad Most popular female event compere – Ashinsani Weerasinghe Most popular newspaper – Lankadeepa Most popular Youth Teacher – Tissa Jananayaka Most popular male teacher – Akila Vimanga Most popular female teacher – Hayeshika Fernando
Social Media Category Most popular TikTok Account – Sachini Chathurangi Most popular Instagram Account – Piumi Hansamali Most popular Facebook Profile – Piumi Hansamali Most popular Facebook page – Suraveera Kello Most popular Social media icon – Wild Cook Book
YouTube category Most popular upcoming comedy channel – Siril Ayya Most popular comedy channel – Vini Production Most popular cookery channel – The Rustic Kitchen Most popular travel channel – Travel with Wife Most popular educational channel – WOW English academy Most popular Personal & Vlog Channel – Point of Pavithra Most popular YouTube Program presenter – Chamuditha Samarawickrama Most popular YouTube channel – Shanudrie
Business category Most popular event photography – Naveen Gunasekara Most popular wedding photographer – Dhanuka Kumarasinghe Dark Room Most popular upcoming beautician – Udara Malshan Most popular upcoming saloon – Hiruni & Saree salon Most popular male beautician – Chandimal Jayasinghe Most popular female beautician – Dilukshi Narangoda Most Popular saloon – Salon PR Most popular male entrepreneur – Viraj Wichramanaya Most popular female entrepreneur – Dr. Pramila Ranasingha
Music category Most popular Youth male singer – Shan Putha Most popular Youth female singer – Hana Shafa Most popular music band – Avatar Most popular male singer – Chamara Weerasinghe Most popular female singer – Sashika Nisansala Most popular Youth song – Seethala Haduwakin (Yasith Kelambiarachchi) Most popular Youth music video – Arabi Kumari (Sadun Perera) Most popular song – Nopathuwa Mohothaka (Milinda Sadaruwan) Most popular music video – Labandi Komaliya (Bathiya and Santhush)
Teledrama category Most popular upcoming teledrama actor – Sanjaya Muramudali Most popular upcoming telerrama actress – Dasuni Senethma and Piyumali Edirisinghe Most Popular teledrama actor of the youth – Randika Gunathilaka Most Popular teledrama actress of the youth – Michelle Dilhara Most popular teledrama actor – Sajitha Anthony (Paata Kurullo) Most Popular teledrama actress – Dinakshie Priyasad (Take Care) Most Popular weekend teledrama – Take Care Most popular teledrama – Paata Kurullo (Hiru TV) Most popular television channel – ITN
Film category Most popular youth film actor – Hemal Ranasinghe Most popular youth film actress – Dinakshie Priyasad Most popular film actor – Akhila Dhanuddara Most popular film actress – Chulakshi Ranathunga Most popular youth film – Visal Adare Most popular film – Sinhabahu
2025 Calin Popular Awards ceremony Television Category Most popular male news Anchor – Vindana Prasad (Hiru TV) Most popular female news anchor – Sarasi Pieris Most popular male Program Presenter – Saranga Disasekara (Hiru Star) Most popular female program Presenter – Yugani Gunathilake Most popular television Program couple – Heshan Mallawa and Julia Sonali (Sirasa TV) Most popular political program – Satana (Sirasa TV) Most popular reality program – Hiru Star (Hiru TV) Most popular chat program – Copy Chat (Hiru TV) Most popular social service program – Gammadda (Sirasa TV) Most popular television news channel – Hiru TV Most popular innovative television channel – TV Supreme Most popular television channel among the youth – Hiru TV Most popular television channel – Hiru TV Most popular television icon – Hiru TV
Radio category Most popular radio program – DJ Ara & Pasbara (Hiru FM) Most popular radio male program presenter – Lakmal Siriwardena Most popular radio female program presenter – Binoli Jayamali Most popular radio news channel – Hiru FM Most popular radio couple – Kitchcha and Avish Most popular emerging radio channel – Supreme Radio Most popular entertaining radio channel – Shaa FM Most popular radio channel among the youth – Y FM Most popular radio channel – Hiru FM
Special category Most popular male dancer – Ramod Malaka Most popular female dancer – Ama Kankanmge Most popular dancing group – TM Dancing Academy Most popular photographer – Danuka Most popular stage drama – Saduda Watenne Sikuradata by Chalaka Ranasooriya Most popular creative campaign – CBL Munchee Savory campaign Most popular restaurant brand – Mr Kottu Most popular biscuit band – CBL Munchee Most popular real estate company – Home Lands
Social Media Category Most popular TikTok Account – Iro Most popular Instagram Account – Piumi Hansamali Most popular Facebook Profile – I Love You Most popular Facebook page – Love City Most popular Social media icon – Shanudrie Priyasad Most popular overseas digital brand – WESL
YouTube category Most popular Travel Youtube channel – Travel with Wife Most popular Cooking Youtube channel – Anoma's Kitchen