‘Dialog Ridee Reyak’ to be Telecast on Swarnavahini on December 31

Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager – Brand & Media, Group Marketing at Dialog Axiata PLC hands over the sponsorship of Ridee Reyak 2021 to Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, Chairman of the Cine Star.
Also pictured (L-R) Veteran actress Shriyani Amarasena, Shereen Kumarathunga, Director – Cine Star, Veteran Actor, Jeewan Kumarathunga, Dr.Kishu Gomez, Member of the Board of Director – Cine Star and Veteran Choreographer Channa Wijewardane.

For another year of dazzling entertainment, veteran and rising stars from the silver screen will sing and dance to popular hits of today and yesteryear once again, bringing local audiences a night to remember with “Dialog Ridee Reyak 2021”. The premier silver carpet event will be telecasted on Swarnawahini from 09 pm onwards on December 31.

As one of the most looked forward to events in the Sri Lankan entertainment calendar, Dialog Ridee Reyak has also cemented its status as one of the most-watched programmes on television on December 31 of every year.

This year will mark the 07th consecutive year that Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, has come on board as the sponsor of the event. Through the funds generated from Dialog Ridee Reyak, the Cine Star Foundation supports over 320 local cinema artists annually by providing medical and life insurance covers to its members and a monthly stipend for deserving yesteryear artists.

Honouring this long-standing tradition in Sinhala cinema, for its 19th edition this year 'Dialog Ridee Reyak 2021’ will host the Channa-Upuli Dance troupe, which mesmerised audiences in the previous editions of Ridee Reyak, to light up the stage once again this year as well. Dialog Ridee Reyak 2021 will also showcase a myriad of dazzling performances featuring stars from young to veterans, who will sing and dance to popular hits of the past and present. Familiar faces including Jeewan Kumaranathunga, Cleetus Mendis, Sriyani Amarasena, Veena Jayakody, Bandu Samarasinghe, Sriyantha Mendis, Yashodha Wimaladharma, Dilhani Ekanayaka, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Channa Perera, Anusha Damayanthi, Nilanthi Dias, Manjula Kumari, Upeksha Swarnamali, Roshan Pilapitiya, Suraj Mapa, Pubudu Chaturanga, Saranga Disasekara, Roshan Ranawana, Wasantha Kumarawila, Chilie Thilanka, Vishwa Kodikara, Sachini Ayendra, Anuja Ranasinghe, Janith Wickramage, Kavinga Perera, Udara Rathnayake, Dinakshi Priyasad, Senali Fonseka, Udari Perera, Tharuka Wanniarachchi, Chulakshi Ranathunga, Vinu Siriwardhana, Mashi Siriwardene, Kalum Aryan, Iresha Asanki and many more.

Chairman of the Cine Star Foundation, Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa stated “19 years ago, Ridee Reyak came into fruition with the aim of actively contributing to the development and welfare of our local artist community, who are a valuable asset to our country. I am pleased to say that over the years, with the aid and assistance given by Dialog Axiata, we have empowered so many artists through this programme to date”.

Seasoned actor, Jeewan Kumaranathunga who has been an integral part of Ridee Reyak over the past few years stated “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all entertainers alike were all deeply affected. On behalf of the local entertainment industry, I would like to express my gratitude to Dialog Axiata and the Cine Star Foundation for the efforts and energy given to the development of the industry and its key players. As we all recover from a hard 02 years, we are deeply appreciative of the support given to the empowerment of Sri Lankan art” Dr. Kishu Gomes, Board Member of the Cine Star Foundation also commented “We hope to give TV viewers a new experience with the telecast of Dialog Ridee Reyak 2021, as we aspire to manifest the energetic atmosphere of the physical event and the spellbinding performances of the local artists to the living rooms of all Sri Lankans. Dialog Axiata has gone and beyond the call of duty and on behalf of the Cine Star Foundation I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Company for facilitating Ridee Reyak and bringing a much-loved show to life for the past 07 years”

Dialog Axiata is a strong promoter of local arts and culture and the welfare of Sri Lankan artists. In 2015, Dialog Axiata entered a memorandum of understanding with the Cine Star Foundation to support Ridee Reyak as gratitude for the yeomen service artists from the silver screen have rendered to the public. Catch Dialog Ridee Reyak 2021 on December 31 from 9 pm onwards on the Swarnavahini channel