# Popular Awards

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 2 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.

## 2024 Calin Popular Awards ceremony
### Teledrama category

* Upcoming Tele Drama Actor - Sanjaya Muramudali
* Upcoming Tele Drama Actress - Dasuni Senethma and Piyumali Edirisinghe
* Most Popular Tele Drama Actor of the Youth - Randika Gunathilaka
* Most Popular Tele Drama Actress of the Youth - Michelle Dilhara
* Most popular Tele Drama Actor - Sajitha Anthony (Paata Kurullo)
* Most Popular Tele Drama Actress - Dinakshie Priyasad
* Most Popular Weekend Tele Drama - Take Care (ITN)
* Most popular teleserial - Paata Kurullo (Hiru TV)
* Most popular television channel - ITN

### Film category

* Youth Film Actor - Hemal Ranasinghe
* Youth Film Actress - Dinakshie Priyasad
* Most popular film actor - Akhila Dhanuddara
* Film actress - Chulakshi Ranathunga
* Youth popular film - Visal Adare
* Most popular Sinhala movie - Sinhabahu

### Television Category

* Most popular political program - Salakuna (Hiru TV)
* Most popular television Program - Hiru star (Hiru TV)
* Most popular Male News Anchor - Saranga Pathirana
* Most popular Female news anchor - Ishara Samarasinghe
* Most popular Male Program Presenter - Peshala Manoj
* Most popular Female program Presenter - Thilini Poornima
* 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 radio program presenter Male - Gayan Gamlath
* Most popular radio program presenter Female - Bhashini Samarasinghe
* Most popular radio news channel - Hiru TV
* Most popular upcoming radio channel - Shaa FM
* Most popular radio channel - Hiru FM

### Business category

* Popular event photography - Naveen Gunasekara
* Popular wedding photographer - Dhanuka Kumarasinghe Dark Room
* Most popular upcoming beautician - Udara Malshan
* Popular upcoming saloon - Hiruni & Saree salon
* Most popular Male Beautician - Chandimal Jayasinghe
* Most popular Female Beautician - Dilukshi Narangoda
* Most Popular saloon - Salon PR
* Popular entrepreneur male - Viraj Wichramanaya
* Popular entrepreneur Female - Dr. Pramila Ranasingha

### Social Media Category

* TikTok Account - Sachini Chathurangi
* Instagram Account - Piumi Hansamali
* Facebook Profile - Piumi Hansamali
* Facebook page - Suraveera Kello
* Social media icon - Wild Cook Book

### YouTube category

* Upcoming Comedy channel - Siril Ayya
* Popular comedy channel - Vini Production
* Popular cookery channel - The Rustic Kitchen
* Travel channel - Travel with Wife
* Educational channel - WOW English academy
* Personal & Vlog Channel - Point of Pavithra
* YouTube Program presenter - Chamuditha Samarawickrama
* Most popular YouTube channel - Shanudrie

### Special category

* Dancer male - Basker Prakash
* Dancer female - Damithri Subasingha
* Dancing group - Chandana Wickramasingha & the dancers guild Sri Lanka
* Event Compere male- Moksha Prasad
* Event Compere female - Ashinsani Weerasinghe
* Newspaper - Lankadeepa
* Youth Teacher - Tissa Jananayaka
* Most popular teacher male - Akila Vimanga
* Most popular teacher female - Hayeshika Fernando

### Music category

* Youth Singer male- Shan Putha
* Youth Singer female - Hana Shafa
* Music Band - Avatar
* Most popular Singer (male) - Chamara Weerasinghe
* Most popular singer (female) - Sashika Nisansala
* Youth Song - Seethala Haduwakin (Yasith Kelambiarachchi)
* Youth Music Video - Arabi Kumari (Sadun Perera)
* Most popular song - Nopathuwa Mohothaka (Milinda Sadaruwan)
* Most popular music video - Labandi Komaliya (Bathiya and Santhush)

## 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.