Media Village, the latest media research institute is preparing for its third successful Mass Media Awards ceremony on October 28. A company consisting of Sri Lanka Mass Media Foundation and the Mass Media Communication and Media Village Research Company, has made all arrangements for the ceremony which is to be held as a massive event on October 28 evening at the BMICH.

Scriptwriter, lyricist Mahinda K. Premasiri is the chairman of the Media Village and said total number of 60 awards will be given covering a number of new areas related to media. ‘Eight merit awards will be awarded to the veteran journalists from the printing, radio and television media in addition to honorary awards for the Best Citizen, Best South Asia Media Personnel, Best South Asia Governor and the Best Businessman," Premasiri said.

Internationally recognized Indian editor Narasimhan Ram who is better known as N. Ram has been selected as this year's Best South Asia Media Personnel. The Chief Editor of four Chennai based publications was earlier honoured with "Sri Lanka Rathna" award, the highest national honour by the Sri Lankan government.

The chief Editor of The Hindu, Frontline, Business Line and Sportstar, N.Ram has earlier won several Awards including the Padma Bhushan award, Asian Investigative Journalist of the Year Award and Press Foundation of Asia's Manila award,

"Our main aim of this award ceremony is to create a media culture that is more responsible and public oriented. We believe that the media should go to the masses," Mahinda added.

Having involved in media for a long time, Mahinda says that the mission of the Media Village is to emerge as the leader in the market research industry, thereby creating a new culture in the field.

According to him there are a many failures in the existing research systems and his main objective is to introduce impartial, transparent and independent system of research to the media. Sri Lanka Mass Media Foundation has 43 branch offices island wide.

The awards ceremony will also coincide with the launch of our Mass Media Highlights Magazine covering all aspects relating to the media.