The Voice Sri Lanka
| The Voice Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | John de Mol Jr. |
| Based on | The Voice franchise |
| Directed by | Samith Basnayake |
| Presented by |
|
| Judges |
|
| Composer | Asela Bandara |
| Country of origin | Sri Lanka |
| Original language | Sinhala |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 200–300 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Waruna Karunarathna |
| Production locations | Ratmalana, Sri Lanka – Stein Studios Sri Lanka |
| Animators |
|
| Editors | Lalith Wasantha, Pubudu Wanigasekara |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 1 hour and 30 minutes |
| Production companies | Stein Studios Sri Lanka MTV/MBC ITV Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sirasa TV |
| Release | 21 November 2020 – present |
| Related | |
The Voice Sri Lanka is a singing competition reality television program from Sri Lanka, broadcast on Sirasa TV. It premiered on 21 November 2020 and has continued airing with yearly seasons ever since.[1] The series is based on the original Dutch singing competition, The Voice of Holland, created by media tycoon John de Mol Jr., and is part of a larger international franchise.[2]
Contestants are selected by a panel of four judges (known as "coaches") who face away from the contestants, judging the singers solely on their voice. If a coach wants the performing contestant on their team, they press a button which turns their chair, revealing the singer’s appearance. If more than one coach turns, the contestant chooses which coach's team to join.[3]
The coaches have varied across seasons. In Seasons One and Two, the panel included Bathiya and Santhush, Kasun Kalhara, Sashika Nisansala, and Umaria Sinhawansa.[4] Season Two introduced a fifth coach, Supun Perera, who led a "Comeback Stage" team.[5] Season Three replaced the original four with new coaches: Supun Perera, Mihindu Ariyaratne, Raini Charuka, and Hirushi Jayasena. The coaches guide their teams through multiple stages of competition. The show follows the success of its predecessor, The Voice Teens, which gained massive fame in Sri Lanka,[6] spawning spin-offs like The Voice Kids.[7]
The show’s first season premiered on 21 November 2020; Season Two concluded on 21 May 2023. The series has produced three winners: Harith Wijeratne (Team Umaria),[8] Rameesh Sashinka (Ramiya) (Team Supun), and Imesh Sandeepa (Team Supun).[9] Winners are chosen by television viewers voting via SMS.
Overview
The Voice is a reality singing competition that originated in the Netherlands. While the original format features four judges, The Voice Sri Lanka later introduced a fifth coach. The show’s concept revolves around coaches judging contestants solely by vocal ability, ignoring appearance.
Blind Auditions
The first stage where coaches listen without seeing contestants. They hit the "I Want You" button to turn chairs and select team members. Coaches mentor their artists throughout.[10]
Battle Rounds
Team members sing duets; coaches choose who advances. Each coach has one "steal" to pick eliminated contestants from other teams.[10]
Knockouts
Remaining contestants choose solo songs to perform individually. Coaches select who proceeds.[10]
Live Shows
Contestants perform live; combined coach and public votes decide who advances.[10]
Grand Finale
Finalists perform original songs and duets with coaches. The winner receives a cash prize.[10]
Season 3 Highlights
Season 3 introduced the innovative "Block Button" to let coaches block competitors from recruiting contestants during blind auditions, adding strategy.[11] The studio set was designed and built entirely in Sri Lanka using advanced technology, surpassing earlier seasons.[12] The grand finale on 14 June 2025 was acclaimed as the biggest television show in Sri Lankan history, featuring elaborate performances and record viewership.[13]
Coaches
- Umaria Sinhawansa – A celebrated Sri Lankan singer known for her powerful vocals and stage presence. She was a coach in Seasons 1 and 2, and led Team Umaria to victory in Season 1.
- Bathiya and Santhush (BNS) – A musical duo famous for blending Sinhala pop with hip-hop and R&B. They coached during Seasons 1 and 2 and were instrumental in mentoring finalists.
- Kasun Kalhara – A soulful vocalist and composer known for his emotional ballads. Kasun was a coach in the first two seasons.
- Sashika Nisansala – A classically trained vocalist with a strong background in playback singing. She coached in Seasons 1 and 2.
- Supun Perera – Initially introduced as the “Fifth Coach” for the Comeback Stage in Season 2. He became a full-time coach and led Team Supun to back-to-back wins in Seasons 2 and 3.
- Mihindu Ariyaratne – A prominent pop-rock artist known for his energetic performances. He debuted as a coach in Season 3.
- Raini Charuka – A pop singer and entertainer with deep roots in the local music industry, joined the panel in Season 3.
- Hirushi Jayasena – Known for her versatility and youth appeal, Hirushi was one of the new coaches in Season 3.
Hosts
- Dinithi Walgamage – A television presenter who hosted the Blind Auditions in Season 1.
- Kingsley Rathnayake – Took over hosting duties during the Battle Rounds in Season 1.
- Sumiran Dhananjaya Gunasekara – The main host from Season 1 finals onwards, including all of Seasons 2 and 3. He is known for his clear presentation style and musical background.
Winners
- Harith Wijeratne (Season 1, Team Umaria) – Gained national attention for his emotional singing style and technical control. He has since performed at multiple national events and concerts.
- Rameesh Sashinka (Ramiya) (Season 2, Team Supun) – Known for his unique voice and dynamic stage presence. He won over audiences with powerful rock and pop performances.
- Imesh Sandeepa (Season 3, Team Supun) – A standout from the auditions, Imesh became known for his vocal range and charisma, eventually winning the grand finale in 2025.
Series Summary
Artist's info
| Season | First aired | Last aired | Winner | Other finalists | Winning Coach | Main Host | Coaches' Chair Order (Left to Right) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Blind Auditions | Battles | Knockouts - Finals | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Comeback | |||||
| 1 | Nov 21, 2020 | Dec 11, 2021 | Harith Wijeratne | Julius Mitchell | Miyuru Somarathne | Thilina Sudesh | Umaria Sinhawansa | Dinithi Walgamage | Kingsly Rathnayaka | Sumiran D. Gunasekara | Umaria | BNS | Sashika | Kasun | — |
| 2 | Oct 29, 2022 | May 21, 2023 | Rameesh Sashinka | Chinthaka Roshan | Sheron Silva | Chanupa Deshitha | Supun Perera | Sumiran Dhananjaya Gunasekara | Kasun | Umaria | Supun | ||||
| 3 | Dec 14, 2024 | June 14, 2025 | Imesh Sandeepa | Isaac Timothy | Lisara Fernando | Rasindu Mihisara | Sumiran Dhananjaya Gunasekara | Mihindu | Raini | Hirushi | Supun | — | |||
Viewership Ratings
| Season | Premiere Date | Finale Date | No. of Episodes | Average Viewership (Est.) | Finale Viewership | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 Nov 2020 | 11 Dec 2021 | 60+ | 1.2 million | 2.5 million | Strong debut season; popular online. |
| 2 | 29 Oct 2022 | 21 May 2023 | 70+ | 1.5 million | 3.2 million | Highest mid-season ratings. |
| 3 | 14 Dec 2024 | 14 Jun 2025 | 80+ | 1.8 million | 4.1 million | Record-breaking finale viewership. Considered as "The Biggest Show in Sri Lanka" |
Coach Statistics
| Coach | Seasons | Wins | Finalists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umaria Sinhawansa | 1–2 | 1 (S1) | 3 | Known for vocal technique & emotional mentoring. |
| Bathiya and Santhush | 1–2 | 0 | 3 | Dynamic duo, strong pop-R&B influence. |
| Kasun Kalhara | 1–2 | 0 | 2 | Known for ballads and lyrical advice. |
| Sashika Nisansala | 1–2 | 0 | 3 | Classical mentorship and stage control. |
| Supun Perera | 2–3 | 2 (S2, S3) | 4 | First to win twice; Comeback Stage specialist. |
| Mihindu Ariyaratne | 3 | 0 | 1 | Energetic coaching style, new to panel. |
| Raini Charuka | 3 | 0 | 1 | Known for stage presence and performance coaching. |
| Hirushi Jayasena | 3 | 0 | 1 | Youngest coach; social media appeal. |
Coaches' Gallery
Hosts' Gallery
Winners' Gallery
Key Moments
Reception
The franchise has been a massive success in Sri Lanka. Three versions run concurrently: The Voice Sri Lanka, The Voice Teens, and The Voice Kids. Performances on YouTube garner millions of views, including promotional and post-performance content known as "V Clapper". The official YouTube channel had over 684 million views as of October 2023.[2]
Shortly after Season One began, the judges recorded a collaborative promotional single covering Pandit W.D. Amaradeva's 1978 song "Nim Him Sewwa," mixing Sinhalese and English lyrics. It amassed over 1 million views.[14] Coach Umaria regularly includes the song in her live setlists.[15]
See also
References
- ^ The Voice Sri Lanka (19 October 2020). "The Voice of Sri Lanka | This November On Sirasa TV". via YouTube. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ a b The Voice Sri Lanka - About page. via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ White, Jessica (20 September 2023). "A Full Breakdown of How The Voice Works". NBC News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ The Voice Sri Lanka (14 November 2020). "The Voice Coaches Are Ready #TheVoiceSL". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ The Voice Sri Lanka (1 March 2023). "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 ✌️ | introducing The 5th Coach". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ (21 June 2020). "‘The Voice Teens Sri Lanka’: Game changer". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ (19 September 2023). "Sirasa TV launches 'The Voice Kids', for the first time in Sri Lanka". News First. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ The Voice Sri Lanka (11 December 2021). "The Judgment | Grand Finale | The Voice Sri Lanka". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Sathyajith, Sandro (21 May 2023). "'Ramiya' Crowned Champion at The Voice Sri Lanka 2023 Grand Finale". News First. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Pilapitiya, Sureshni (7 July 2020). "Taking Sri Lankan teen talent to the next level". Daily News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Coverage of Season 3 innovations pending reliable source.
- ^ Studio details pending citation.
- ^ Reception and ratings of Season 3 finale pending citation.
- ^ M Entertainments [@MEntertainmentsPL] (28 November 2020). "Nim Him Sewwa (නිම් හිම් සෙව්වා) - The Voice Sri Lanka Edition - BnS | Kasun | Umaria | Shashika". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Marians (30 April 2021). "Umaria Sinhawansa (උමාරියා) - Trico වසන්තය with MARIANS". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.