The Voice Sri Lanka

Last updated
The Voice Sri Lanka
VoiceSriLankaTitleCard.png
Genre
Created by John de Mol Jr.
Based on The Voice franchise
Directed bySamith Basnayake
Presented by
  • Dinithi Walgamage (Blind Auditions, S1)
  • Kingsley Rathnayake (The Battles, S1)
  • Sumiran Dhananjaya Gunasekara
Judges
  • Supun Perera
  • Raini Charuka
  • Hirushi Jayasena
  • Mihindu Ariyaratne
ComposerAsela Bandara
Country of originSri Lanka
Original language Sinhala
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes200–300
Production
ProducerWaruna Karunarathna
Production locations Ratmalana, Sri Lanka – Stein Studios Sri Lanka
Animators
  • Mahinda Nagahawatta
  • Lahiru Hashan
  • Chamath Gunasekara
EditorsLalith Wasantha, Pubudu Wanigasekara
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time1 hour and 30 minutes
Production companies Stein Studios Sri Lanka
MTV/MBC
ITV Studios
Original release
Network Sirasa TV
Release21 November 2020 (2020-11-21) 
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]

Contents

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

Hosts

Winners

Series Summary

Artist's info

SeasonFirst airedLast airedWinnerOther finalistsWinning CoachMain HostCoaches' Chair Order (Left to Right)
123Blind AuditionsBattlesKnockouts - Finals1234Comeback
1Nov 21, 2020Dec 11, 2021Harith WijeratneJulius MitchellMiyuru SomarathneThilina Sudesh Umaria Sinhawansa Dinithi WalgamageKingsly RathnayakaSumiran D. GunasekaraUmariaBNSSashikaKasun
2Oct 29, 2022May 21, 2023Rameesh SashinkaChinthaka RoshanSheron SilvaChanupa DeshithaSupun PereraSumiran Dhananjaya GunasekaraKasunUmariaSupun
3Dec 14, 2024June 14, 2025Imesh SandeepaIsaac TimothyLisara FernandoRasindu MihisaraSumiran Dhananjaya GunasekaraMihinduRainiHirushiSupun

Viewership Ratings

SeasonPremiere DateFinale DateNo. of EpisodesAverage Viewership (Est.)Finale ViewershipNotes
121 Nov 202011 Dec 202160+1.2 million2.5 millionStrong debut season; popular online.
229 Oct 202221 May 202370+1.5 million3.2 millionHighest mid-season ratings.
314 Dec 202414 Jun 202580+1.8 million4.1 millionRecord-breaking finale viewership. Considered as "The Biggest Show in Sri Lanka"

Coach Statistics

CoachSeasonsWinsFinalistsNotes
Umaria Sinhawansa 1–21 (S1)3Known for vocal technique & emotional mentoring.
Bathiya and Santhush 1–203Dynamic duo, strong pop-R&B influence.
Kasun Kalhara 1–202Known for ballads and lyrical advice.
Sashika Nisansala 1–203Classical mentorship and stage control.
Supun Perera2–32 (S2, S3)4First to win twice; Comeback Stage specialist.
Mihindu Ariyaratne301Energetic coaching style, new to panel.
Raini Charuka301Known for stage presence and performance coaching.
Hirushi Jayasena301Youngest coach; social media appeal.

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

  1. The Voice Sri Lanka (19 October 2020). "The Voice of Sri Lanka | This November On Sirasa TV". via YouTube. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 The Voice Sri Lanka - About page. via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. White, Jessica (20 September 2023). "A Full Breakdown of How The Voice Works". NBC News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. The Voice Sri Lanka (14 November 2020). "The Voice Coaches Are Ready #TheVoiceSL". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. The Voice Sri Lanka (1 March 2023). "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 ✌️ | introducing The 5th Coach". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. (21 June 2020). "‘The Voice Teens Sri Lanka’: Game changer". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. (19 September 2023). "Sirasa TV launches 'The Voice Kids', for the first time in Sri Lanka". News First. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. The Voice Sri Lanka (11 December 2021). "The Judgment | Grand Finale | The Voice Sri Lanka". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. Sathyajith, Sandro (21 May 2023). "'Ramiya' Crowned Champion at The Voice Sri Lanka 2023 Grand Finale". News First. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Pilapitiya, Sureshni (7 July 2020). "Taking Sri Lankan teen talent to the next level". Daily News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. Coverage of Season 3 innovations pending reliable source.
  12. Studio details pending citation.
  13. Reception and ratings of Season 3 finale pending citation.
  14. 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.
  15. Marians (30 April 2021). "Umaria Sinhawansa (උමාරියා) - Trico වසන්තය with MARIANS". via YouTube. Retrieved 8 October 2023.