Sudaththa Thilakasiri Presidential Media Award Nomination Is Fake, No Official Announcement Issued

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With the Presidential Media Awards usually held towards the end of the year, a news card spread fast across Sri Lankan social media claiming that the Presidential Media Division had nominated actor and YouTube activist Sudaththa Thilakasiri for a Presidential Award. Presented as an official announcement and carrying the familiar look of a news card, it was convincing enough that many took it seriously. 

Social Media Posts

The following posts circulated, falsely suggesting that the news website ‘NewsHub.lk’ had report had stated the Presidential Media Division nominated Sudaththa Thilakasiri for the Presidential Media Awards.

Fact-Check

NewsHub.lk Did Not Publish Any Such Report

The viral card imitated the official news-card design of NewsHub.lk, a Sri Lankan news website (its Facebook page is www.newshub.lk). NewsHub cards routinely carry a source label such as “Presidential Media Division” along the bottom, and the fake card copied that familiar format to look authentic. No such post appears anywhere on NewsHub.lk.

We contacted NewsHub about the card. Its news editor confirmed that the outlet had published no such report and said the circulating card was a fabrication that misused the NewsHub brand.

The Presidential Media Division Issued No Announcement About Any Media Awards

The President’s Media Division (PMD) issues official messages only through its verified channels: its official website (pmd.gov.lk), its Facebook page, its X (Twitter) account and its YouTube channel.

None of these channels announced that Sudaththa Thilakasiri had been nominated for the Presidential Media Awards. Had such a nomination been genuine, the country’s leading media outlets would have reported it, and none did.

When we asked the Presidential Media Division directly, it confirmed that it had issued no such announcement and none about the 2026 Presidential Media Awards. It added that no such ceremony was planned for 2026 and that the circulating card was fabricated.

The Presidential Media Awards Honour Journalists Through a Formal Application and Jury Process

The Presidential Media Awards are a formal ceremony organized by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media that recognizes journalists across television, radio, print, digital and media research. They include the “Media Icon” award, which honors veterans of the field.

Awards are decided through formal applications assessed by an independent jury. The most recent edition, the 2025 Presidential Media Awards, was held on 11 November 2025 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre after Cabinet approval, an open call for applications and jury selection. It recognized media professionals for 2023; the full list of awardees and related coverage is available here and here.

The awards therefore do not work through any process in which an individual is “recommended.” At the time of this review, no call for applications for the 2026 media awards had been officially announced.

Sudaththa Thilakasiri – A Controversial Social-Media Activist

Sudaththa Thilakasiri is a stage actor and social-media activist who runs a YouTube channel. He is a controversial figure, active online in support of the current government while criticizing previous administrations. We have fact-checked claims about him before, including the widely shared claim that he was granted VIP security by presidential order.

Although the viral card was framed satirically, what matters in fact-check is whether the public could mistake it for real news. By mimicking a verified outlet (NewsHub.lk) and official sources, the card took on the appearance of genuine news. Despite its satirical origin, it remains a fabricated post dressed up to look official.

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Conclusion

The circulating news card claiming that the “Presidential Media Division” recommended Sudaththa Thilakasiri for a Presidential Media Award is false. It is a fabricated, satirical creation that copied the branding of the ‘NewsHub.lk’, a news outlet.

The Presidential Media Awards are a formal ceremony run by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, honoring professional journalists through proper applications and an independent jury, not through the “recommendation” of any individual.

Both NewsHub and the Presidential Media Division confirmed to Fact Crescendo that they had issued no such report or announcement, and the PMD said no call for applications or recommendation process for the 2026 Presidential Media Awards had begun.