Charana TV, a channel available through SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV, has received further recognition for its commitment to meaningful television after its youth talk show, Seethala Ithala, won the Best Educational Programme award at the 31st Sumathi Awards 2026.
The award was presented under the Best Social Media Awards category, acknowledging the programme’s ability to combine youth participation, informed discussion and public education in a format that remains accessible to a broad television audience. Producer Shenal Jayasekara accepted the award on behalf of Charana TV at the ceremony.
The achievement places Seethala Ithala among Sri Lanka’s notable youth-oriented programmes, while also highlighting the growing importance of educational content that treats young people not merely as viewers, but as active contributors to national conversations.
A platform for young voices
At the centre of Seethala Ithala is a straightforward but influential concept: young people are given the opportunity to speak about issues that affect their lives, communities and future prospects.
Rather than presenting youth concerns exclusively through the observations of adults, the programme allows young participants to express their own opinions, describe personal experiences and contribute external observations drawn from the world around them. This approach creates a more balanced discussion, in which the experiences of younger generations can be considered alongside the knowledge of professionals and specialists.
The programme also includes specialists and consultants connected to the topics under discussion. Their involvement provides factual context, professional interpretation and alternative viewpoints, ensuring that conversations extend beyond personal opinion. By placing lived experience and specialist knowledge within the same programme structure, Seethala Ithala encourages viewers to consider social questions from several perspectives.
This method is particularly valuable in an era in which young audiences encounter information through television, social media, online video and informal digital networks. Carefully moderated discussion can help distinguish between immediate reaction and informed understanding, while also showing that complex issues can be approached through respectful dialogue.
Education beyond the classroom
The recognition at the Sumathi Awards also reflects a broader understanding of education. While formal schooling remains essential, public knowledge is developed through many other channels, including broadcasting, cultural programmes, documentaries and conversations about social responsibility.
A youth programme such as Seethala Ithala can contribute to this wider educational purpose by encouraging curiosity, communication and critical thinking. When young participants are invited to explain how an issue affects them, viewers are provided with an opportunity to understand the subject through a human and relatable lens. When specialists then add professional perspectives, the discussion becomes more comprehensive and potentially more useful to families, educators and community organisations.
The educational value of such programming is therefore not limited to the information presented in an individual episode. It also lies in the habits of engagement that the format seeks to develop: listening to different opinions, asking relevant questions, recognising evidence and considering the consequences of social decisions.
For Sri Lankan viewers living overseas, programmes that connect education with local culture can hold particular significance. Television remains an important way for families in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and other countries to maintain links with Sri Lankan language, values and public life. High-quality content that features younger voices can help younger members of these families remain connected to the society and traditions of their heritage.
Charana TV’s wider contribution
Charana TV is dedicated to knowledge, culture and quality entertainment for viewers across age groups. Its programming covers a wide range of subjects, including the arts, cultural heritage, current affairs, documentaries, agriculture, health, children’s education, music, religion, philosophy, youth issues and profiles of notable personalities.
This breadth gives the channel a distinctive role within Sri Lanka’s television landscape. Entertainment is presented alongside content that informs, preserves cultural memory and encourages public reflection. Such a combination is increasingly important as broadcasters seek to serve audiences with varied interests while maintaining a clear social purpose.
The channel’s stated commitment to presenting Sri Lanka’s identity to the world through innovative and purposeful programming is also relevant to Sri Lankans abroad. Cultural continuity depends not only on festivals and family traditions, but also on the regular circulation of stories, ideas, language and creative work. Television programmes that bridge established cultural knowledge with the interests of younger viewers can play an instrumental role in that process.
In this context, Seethala Ithala represents the antithesis of passive programming. Its format is based on participation, comparison and conversation, with young people positioned as thoughtful contributors to subjects that may otherwise be discussed without their direct involvement.
Recognition for a purpose-led programme
The 31st Sumathi Awards recognition provides a significant endorsement of the programme’s approach. Awards do not replace the sustained effort required to produce relevant television, but they can draw attention to formats that offer value beyond entertainment.
For the production team, the award acknowledges the planning, research, coordination and editorial judgement required to create discussions that are accessible while retaining substance. For Shenal Jayasekara, receiving the award represents professional recognition for the work undertaken in producing a programme that places youth perspectives and informed analysis at its centre.
The achievement may also encourage further investment in programmes that address education and social awareness through engaging formats. There remains considerable potential for broadcasters to develop content that gives young people greater visibility, particularly in areas such as digital citizenship, health, environmental responsibility, employment, creativity and community participation.
The continued success of Seethala Ithala will depend on its ability to remain responsive to the changing concerns of young Sri Lankans. Nevertheless, its recognition at the Sumathi Awards demonstrates that educational programming can achieve both public relevance and industry distinction when it is built around authentic participation and carefully supported by expertise.
A positive example for Sri Lankan media
Charana TV’s award is a positive development for Sri Lankan broadcasting and for viewers who value content that combines knowledge with cultural connection. It confirms that educational television can remain compelling when it respects its audience, welcomes different perspectives and presents difficult subjects in a clear and responsible manner.
The programme’s success also illustrates the importance of creating spaces in which young people can be heard. When their ideas are treated seriously, public discussion becomes more representative, and viewers of all ages can gain a clearer understanding of the hopes, concerns and ambitions shaping the next generation.
Charana TV is available in true HD quality on SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV through HD channel 305 and SD channel 05. Viewers across Sri Lanka can also watch Charana TV free of charge through the PEO Mobile App.
For the global Sri Lankan community, this achievement is a reminder of the creative and educational work continuing within Sri Lanka’s media sector. eLanka continues to share positive stories about Sri Lankans and Sri Lankan organisations worldwide through its news and articles platform, useful links directory and free newsletter.
Source: http://colombogazette.com
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