Newsfirst

News 1st

Official logo
Country	Sri Lanka
Broadcast area	Sri Lanka (Nationwide) Worldwide (Online)
Network	MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd MBC Networks
Headquarters	45/3, Braybrooke Place, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka
Programming
Languages	Sinhala, Tamil, English
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
Owner	Capital Maharaja Group
Sister channels	Television: Sirasa TV Shakthi TV TV 1 Radio: Sirasa FM Shakthi FM Yes FM Y FM Legends FM Real Radio
History
Launched	October 1, 2003 (2003-10-01)
Links
Website	www.newsfirst.lk
Availability
Streaming media
Web Streaming	Live Web Stream
Social Media	YouTube

News 1st (also stylized as NewsFirst) is a Sri Lankan news service and multimedia division owned by the Capital Maharaja Group and operated through its media subsidiaries, MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd and MBC Networks.

First established as a radio and television news unit in 1995, the network produces trilingual news programming in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. It broadcasts across three national television channels (Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, and TV 1), five radio networks (Sirasa FM, Shakthi FM, Yes FM, Y FM, and Legends FM), three language-specific web portals, and various social media platforms.

History

Origins and establishment (1995–2000s)

News 1st was launched on 6 November 1995 as the centralized news division of The Capital Maharaja Organisation Limited (CMG), led by co-founders Rajandram Maharaja and R. Rajamahendran. Established during Sri Lanka's civil war and amidst a historically state-dominated broadcast media landscape, the service was created to provide independent, trilingual news coverage across Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

The news gathering and production operations were integrated across the group's television and radio subsidiaries, operated by MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd and MBC Networks. In addition to broadcasting on MTV (later rebranded as TV 1), the network expanded its television reach following the launch of Sirasa TV for Sinhala-speaking audiences and Shakthi TV on 20 October 1998 for Tamil-speaking audiences. Radio news distribution was simultaneously integrated into FM stations including Sirasa FM, Shakthi FM, and Yes FM.

Digital expansion and citizen initiatives (2007–present)

On 10 October 2007, News 1st launched its digital arm, initially operating under the domain name ethalaya.com before rebranding to newsfirst.lk. It was recognized as Sri Lanka's first dedicated trilingual news website, offering real-time news articles and video bulletins in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. In the following years, the division expanded into mobile news delivery via SMS breaking news alerts, dedicated mobile applications, and online video streaming.

To expand regional news coverage, the network developed a nationwide network of provincial correspondents and launched the "U-Reporter" citizen journalism platform, enabling community members across the island to submit news reports and local footage.

In 2016, News 1st launched "Gammedda" (meaning "village council"), a public service and grassroots advocacy initiative designed to identify infrastructure, water, and socioeconomic challenges in rural Sri Lankan villages and connect communities with donors and governmental authorities.

Broadcasting and operations

Television

News 1st produces and broadcasts live daily news bulletins, breaking news updates, and current affairs programming across three free-to-air television channels owned and operated by MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd:

• Sirasa TV: Serves Sinhala-language audiences with hourly breaking news updates titled "Live@55" alongside flagship mid-day (12:00 PM), prime-time evening (7:00 PM), and late-night (10:00 PM) news bulletins.
• Shakthi TV: Delivers Tamil-language news programming tailored for northern, eastern, and plantation-sector demographics in Sri Lanka, anchored by "Live@25" hourly updates and main bulletins at 1:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 10:00 PM.
• TV 1: Broadcasts English-language news updates, interviews, and current affairs coverage, featuring its flagship 9:00 PM English news bulletin.

Radio

Audio news operations are centrally produced and synchronized across five FM radio stations managed by sister company MBC Networks:

• Sirasa FM (Sinhala)
• Shakthi FM (Tamil)
• Yes FM (English)
• Y FM (Sinhala/English bilingual)
• Legends FM (English)

The network broadcasts hourly short updates alongside main morning and evening news broadcasts across all five stations.

Regional correspondents and citizen journalism

News 1st utilizes a centralized news desk model based at the Capital Maharaja headquarters in Colombo, supported by a nationwide network of regional correspondents stationed across all 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka.

To cover rural developments and grassroots issues, the network operates the "U-Reporter" citizen journalism initiative. The system allows members of the public to submit eyewitness video footage, photographs, and field reports regarding infrastructure challenges, weather emergencies, and local civic issues directly to the central newsroom for editorial verification and broadcast.

Editorial style and coverage

Operating under slogans such as "With The People'' (ජනතාව සමග in Sinhala) and "We Report You Decide'' (සත්‍යයේ සටහන බුද්ධියේ විමසුමට in Sinhala), News 1st built its broadcast identity around fast-paced breaking news alerts, investigative journalism, and citizen-centric reporting.

The network has received international press awards for its documentary work. In 2013, a documentary team from News 1st earned the silver award at the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Awards in New York for an investigative series produced on International Water Day.

Programming

Sirasa TV (Sinhala)

Sirasa TV produces several of Sri Lanka's most recognizable political talk shows, morning reviews, and investigative programs:

• Satana (සටන): Broadcast on Tuesday nights, Satana is Sirasa TV’s flagship live political debate program. Hosted by senior news directors of News 1st, the show brings together government ministers, opposition parliamentarians, and policy analysts in a live studio setting to debate high-stakes national issues. It incorporates live audience interactions via the #AskSatana hashtag.
• Dawasa (දවස): Airing at 6:30 PM on weekdays, Dawasa is a dedicated current affairs program where journalists analyze legislative proceedings, social media trends, and public opinion.
• Pathikada (පැතිකඩ): A weekday morning interview segment hosted by Asoka Dias, focusing on one-on-one hardtalk-style discussions with political leaders, economists, and civil society representatives.
• Mawatha (or Aluth Mawatha / අලුත් මාවත): Features in-depth analytical coverage and reports on political developments, economic reforms, and social issues.
• Sirasa Paththare: Daily morning newspaper review and press commentary.
• Other current affairs programming: Ilakkaya, Niyamarthaya, Darana (ධාරණ), Peratama Sri Lanka, Jathika Mehewara, Market 360, Happening Now, and Visual Radio.

Shakthi TV (Tamil)

Shakthi TV offers Tamil-language political discussions, current affairs analysis, and news magazines:

• Indru (இன்று): Daily news commentary and issue breakdown.
• Thesaththin Kural (தேசத்தின் குரல்): Political discussion and governance analysis.
• Samar (சமர்): Live political debate forum featuring regional and national lawmakers.
• Newsline with Riyas Haris: In-depth discussion and interview program led by senior broadcast journalist Riyas Haris.
• Minnal: Public interest investigative feature segment.
• Puthiya Pathai

TV 1 (English)

TV 1 provides English-language morning broadcasts, talk shows, and political interviews:

• Breakfast Rundown on TV1: Morning news, lifestyle, and business briefing.
• The People's Platform: Primetime political forum analyzing public policy and civic affairs.
• Face the Nation / Face to Face: One-on-one interview series with policymakers, diplomats, and economists.
• Talk of the Town / Newsline: Analytical current affairs features covering national and international developments.
• YES 101 Visual Radio: Audio-visual crossover program produced in partnership with sister station YES FM.

Key initiatives and public service

The Gammadda Movement

Originally launched as a public forum television segment called Janatha Mandapaya, Gammadda (Sinhala: ගම්මැද්ද, translating to "Heart of the Village") was conceptualized by late Capital Maharaja Group co-founder R. Rajamahendran and evolved into Sri Lanka's largest community-driven rural development initiative.

Door-to-Door research and community projects

To address chronic rural infrastructure neglect, News 1st collaborated with academic institutions—such as the University of Peradeniya—to conduct the Gammadda Door-to-Door Campaign. Teams of researchers and volunteers travel into remote villages across all 25 districts to document grassroots challenges, including:

• Lack of safe drinking water and high incidences of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu).
• Broken bridges and hazardous rural transport routes.
• Dilapidated primary school buildings.
• Unmitigated human-elephant conflict.

Using collected field data, Gammadda mobilizes private donations, corporate partnerships, and volunteer labor to directly construct drinking water filtration plants, rural bridges, and classrooms without relying on state funding.

Gammadda Saviya and V-Force

To ensure long-term project sustainability, local Gammadda Saviya Societies are established in participating villages, empowering residents to maintain completed projects. The movement also operates Gammadda V-Force, a nationwide youth volunteer network deployed during natural disasters (such as floods, landslides, and tropical cyclones) to distribute emergency relief supplies and assist in rebuilding homes.

Disaster relief and community CSR

• Sirasa Shakthi Sahana Yathra: A corporate disaster response initiative that collects and distributes emergency relief supplies—including food, clean water, and medicine—to communities affected by floods, landslides, and natural calamities.
• Mage Rata Mage Hadawathai: A specialized trilingual emergency broadcast initiative mobilized during severe flood emergencies and disaster mitigation efforts (such as the Ditwa rescue operations in 2026).
• News 1st Vanithabhimana: An annual nationwide awards scheme organized to recognize, empower, and celebrate women leaders across business, community service, sports, and grassroots activism.
• News 1st Classroom: A CSR outreach program conducting free regional media workshops for school students and youth, promoting media literacy, basic journalism skills, and public speaking.
• Danamuthu Sayanaya (Construction Clinic): Conducted in partnership with local PVC manufacturer S-Lon, functioning as a mobile clinic where certified architects, civil engineers, and builders offer free technical advice to the public regarding home construction and infrastructure planning.

Attacks, safety of journalists, and controversies

Due to its critical coverage of government administration, military affairs, and political corruption, News 1st and its parent network have faced political scrutiny, physical attacks on broadcast infrastructure, and violence against field journalists.

2009 Depanama studio complex bombing

On 6 January 2009, an armed group of 15 to 20 masked individuals raided the main studio and transmission complex of MTV/MBC in Depanama, Pannipitiya. The assailants held security and technical staff at gunpoint, destroyed control rooms, edit suites, and broadcast equipment, and detonated explosives—including a Claymore mine—causing extensive structural damage.

The attack temporarily knocked news broadcasts off the air, though transmission was restored within hours using emergency backup infrastructure. The incident drew widespread condemnation from media freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and UNESCO. Two days after visiting the bombed facility to express solidarity, prominent newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated in Attidiya. Official investigations into the studio attack yielded no criminal convictions.

2022 protest assaults

During the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis, News 1st field reporters and camera crews experienced physical violence while covering live anti-government demonstrations.

On 9 July 2022, a News 1st reporting team—including anchor Sarasi Peiris, camera operator Warun Sampath, digital correspondent Janith Mendis, and journalist Judin Sinthujan—was physically assaulted by personnel from the Police Special Task Force (STF) while broadcasting live outside the private residence of then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. When a secondary backup team arrived to evacuate their injured colleagues, security forces targeted them with tear gas and physical force.

Eight news personnel were hospitalized with head and body injuries. The live broadcast of the assault led to immediate public outcry, and the STF officer commanding the unit, Senior Superintendent Romesh Liyanage, was subsequently suspended pending an internal police investigation. The assault was condemned by local media trade unions and international press watchdogs.

Editorial independence and state pressure

Over successive administrations, News 1st has faced political pressure and legislative threats regarding its coverage. In 2023, media rights groups raised concerns over proposed state broadcast regulation bills, citing potential risks to the editorial independence of private news outlets like News 1st.

Awards and recognition

News 1st, its digital platforms, and its broadcast journalists have received several local and international awards for television reporting, current affairs programming, and digital news delivery.

International honors

• UNCA Awards (2013): News 1st received the Silver Medal at the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Awards in New York for an investigative news documentary series produced for World Water Day. The awarded feature was compiled by English News Director Shameer Rasooldeen and Executive Producer Zulfick Farzan.

National broadcasting awards

• Raigam Tele Awards: The division has won major honors at Sri Lanka's annual Raigam Tele'es, including "Best News Network" (2020) and "Best News Bulletin of the Year" (2022). Network staff and programming have also received individual awards for Best News Presenter (across Sinhala, Tamil, and English languages), Best Current Affairs Host, and Best TV Documentary (such as Wasgamu Vismaya in 2022).
• Sumathi Awards: The network has earned multiple accolades at the annual Sumathi Awards, particularly within the Television Investigative Reporting and Current Affairs categories.

Digital and web recognitions

• BestWeb.lk Awards: The group's trilingual news website (newsfirst.lk) has received multiple recognitions in the media category at the annual BestWeb.lk competition organized by the LK Domain Registry. These include Silver awards for the English news portal in 2013 and 2014, and a Bronze award for the Tamil news portal in 2014.

See also

• Capital Maharaja Group
• Media in Sri Lanka
• Television in Sri Lanka
• Sirasa TV
• Shakthi TV
• TV 1

External links

• Official website
• Official Sinhala News Portal
• Official Tamil News Portal