News First


News First or News 1st is a Sri Lankan news organization owned by the Capital Maharaja Organization Ltd. News 1st primarily broadcasts news live on three TV channels, three news websites in Sinhala, English & Tamil languages, and social media platforms.

Programmes

Village Council (Gammedda)

News 1st initiated “Gammedda” programme to invigorate the Village Council fora, by taking it to the masses, and strengthening the fundamentals of democracy by instilling the ideal that the relevant authorities and highest echelons of government are directly responsible to the people.

Construction Clinic (Danamuthu Sayanaya)

News 1st, S-Lon Construction Clinic called Danamuthu Sayanaya is another initiative carried out with the participation of the renowned architects, builders, engineers in the country where these professionals provide advice free of charge.

News 1st Classroom (Media Workshop)

News 1st Outreach reaches out to each of young life, to nurture the youth with media literacy and communication, to make a better future through News 1st Classroom.

Dawasa Political Programme

Dawasa is a program which is focused on the current political situation in Sri Lanka where two expert journalists in the field of politics will share their views, along with News 1st presenter Roshan Watala. It goes on to express the comments, impressions and drawbacks faced by the general public on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

UNCA Award

A news documentary series telecasted on News1st, based on International Water Day was awarded the Silver medal at the United Nations Correspondents Association Awards which was held in United States in 2013. Director English News Shameer Rasooldeen and Executive Producer Zulfick Farzan of News1st compiled the award winning story.

News 1st Digital

News 1st Digital is the official web news provider under the Capital Maharaja Organization umbrella in association with the Maharaja television and broadcasting services. News 1st Digital launched its website, newsfirst.lk in 2007. newsfirst.lk is Sri Lanka's 1st trilingual website and provides latest news updates and breaking news in English, Sinhala and Tamil for local, business, political, life style, entertainment and sports news. In August 2013 newsfirst.lk English website was awarded a Silver medal at Bestweb.lk Awards. In August 2014 newsfirst.lk English website was awarded a Silver medal at Bestweb.lk Awards while the bronze medal was awarded to newsfirst.lk Tamil website.

Controversy