Television, which was a concept in the 18th century, was evolved through many different experiments, and became success in the early 19th century.  June 5th of 1979 marked the beginning of television media in our country with the advent of independent television. Forty one (41) years have passed since then. This media has a tremendous influence on the social, economic, political and cultural flow of our country at present and it has become increasingly popular among the people. With the mushrooming of several TV channels the competition among them for both audience and advertising has also increased.

 In this backdrop, the first ever State Television Awards Ceremony was organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs in 2006 with the objective of setting up of excellent television media.  The artistes in this field are evaluated and give due accolade to their tele- creations since then. The event is organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arts Council of Sri Lanka and the State Advisory Council of Television on the instructions of the Ministry in charge of the subject of cultural affairs.

Vision

Contribute for the escalation of media literacy by increasing the quality and the standards of the television media.

Objectives

  • Encourage the tele artistes.
  • Introducing the programs of excellence to the people by evaluating the tele creations.
  • Qualitative development on the usage of television media.
  • State patronage for the appreciation of the tele artistes and their creations.
  • Escalation of media literacy by introducing programs of excellence to the general public.
  • Encourage the state and private television channels to build up an excellent media culture and thereby utilizing this media for the social mobility.
  • Draw the attention of the audience towards the television media to generate a sensitive audience replete with a sense of appreciation.

The categories of the programs for the presentation of awards are given below

  1. Outstanding Television Drama Series TD

Awards will be presented under the following components from among the tele drama series telecast in 2021.

      1. Outstanding television drama series
      2. Outstanding direction
      3. Outstanding acting (male)
      4. Outstanding acting (female)
      5. Outstanding supportive acting (male)
      6. Outstanding supportive acting (female)
      7. Outstanding television play writing
      8. Outstanding art direction
      9. Outstanding make up
      10. Outstanding camera direction
      11. Outstanding editing
      12. Outstanding music direction
      13. Outstanding song

          a. Lyrics Music     b.  Vocals

XIV. Outstanding sound designing.

In addition, special awards of the Jury will be presented for excellent performances, if any, for such categories.

The maximum number of episodes in the television drama series should be 100. Only the tele dramas that have completed telecasting in the relevant year  for the first time will be considered.

      1. Outstanding Drama (Single Episode) SE
      2. Outstanding Docu Drama DD
      3. Outstanding Children’s Drama CD
      4. Outstanding Tele Film F
      5. Outstanding Magazine Program MG
      6. Outstanding Cultural Program CUL
      7. Outstanding Music Program              MP
      8. Outstanding Environmental Program EP
      9. Outstanding Health Program. HSP
      10. Outstanding Program to promote science based thinking          SCI
      11. Outstanding Talk Show TS
      12. Outstanding Discussion DIS
      13. Outstanding Documentary Program                                               DOC
      14. Outstanding Children’s Program CP
      15. Outstanding Dubbed Program DUB
      16. Outstanding Music Video VM
      17. Outstanding Animation Program ANP
      18. Outstanding News Editor                                       NE
      19. Outstanding News Reader – Male NRM                                                             
      20. Outstanding News Reader – Female                                         NRF
      21. Outstanding Presenter – Male TVPM
      22. Outstanding Presenter – Female TVPF
      23. Outstanding Sports Program SP
      24. Outstanding Investigative News Reporting INV
      25. Outstanding Television Trailer                                              TT
      26. Outstanding Television Filler TF
      27. Outstanding Multi Camera Production (Attention will be drawn to MUL

Set design, camera direction, lighting direction, visual mixing,

 audio mixing and make up)

      1. Outstanding Publicity/ Promotional advertisement

(Television commercials on public services and social responsibilities)          AD

 N.B. Only the tele creations which have been completed telecasting for the first time on 31st December of the relevant year will be considered for this Awards Ceremony.

      1. Outstanding Academic/ Research Publication on television media

 (Evaluation will be done only on original and translated academic Publications. First printing should be in the relevant year)