Asia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has been honored with a 2026 Global Recognition Award for its profound contributions to the South Asian broadcasting landscape. Under the visionary leadership of Chairman Rayynor Silva, ABC has evolved into the largest and most influential media network in Sri Lanka, setting international benchmarks in vision, strategy, and cross-platform execution.

Building a Broadcasting Empire

Founded and steered by Rayynor Silva, ABC launched in July 1998 and has since grown into a media powerhouse. Rayynor Silva, a pioneering figure who introduced private broadcasting to Sri Lanka, has utilized his 27 years of industry expertise to build a network that owns five national radio channels—Hiru FM, Gold FM, Sun FM, Sooriyan FM, and Shaa FM—and the country’s most-watched television station, Hiru TV.

Every channel under the ABC umbrella holds the number-one position in its respective market. This dominance is supported by a 1,200-strong workforce operating from a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art studio complex at the World Trade Center in Colombo. Rayynor Silva’s leadership has consistently prioritized global technological standards, as evidenced by Hiru TV’s 2012 debut as Sri Lanka’s first HD-ready, digitally enabled channel with island-wide coverage from day one.

Global Excellence & Strategic Benchmarks

The network’s leadership is validated by a prestigious portfolio of international accolades, recognizing its mastery over regional audience engagement and technical innovation:

• South Asia’s Regional Leader: Officially ranked as the Number 2 Media Channel in South Asia on TikTok, setting a historic benchmark for Sri Lankan digital reach.
• Most Popular TikTok Channel of the Year: A triple-crown winner at the Diamond Awards, Pinnacle Awards, and Asia Miracle Awards 2025.
• Global Business Excellence Award 2025: Honored as the “Most Popular Television Channel of the Year” for successfully merging legacy media with a digital-first strategy.
• World Summit Award (WSA) Winner: Achieving global recognition for the flagship mobile application, honored as the international standard for Best Mobile Content Application.
• Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Award: Recognized for the “Best Digitalization of Television and Radio” in the region.
• Digital Excellence Honors: Recipient of multiple awards for Best Digital Media Agency and Best Use of Mobile.

Innovation and Market Leadership

ABC’s content strategy consistently matches its technological ambitions. Hiru Star, the nation’s first live, app-based reality competition, and teledramas like Paata Kurullo have set new production standards, winning “Most Popular” titles at the Raigam Tele’es and the 2025 Asia Miracle Awards.

The network’s news division, Hiru News, remains the “Most Popular News Provider” in the country, powered by over 300 local correspondents and an international network spanning 40 countries. In the Global Recognition Award evaluation, ABC achieved a perfect rating of 5 across all leadership dimensions, including strategy implementation, ability to inspire, and ethical decision-making. Driving the network’s digital agenda is Prasanthan Subramaniam, who serves as General Manager of Digital Transformation and IT, overseeing the technological infrastructure that underpins ABC’s continued innovation.

Social Responsibility and Public Trust

ABC’s social responsibility record reinforces its standing as more than a commercial enterprise, reflecting a conviction that a media network carries genuine obligations to the public it serves. Humanitarian initiatives such as Rata Wenuwen Hiru Sahana Yaathra have been formally recognized for “Outstanding Humanitarian Service,” and the network’s trilingual reach ensures it serves Sri Lanka’s entire population, not merely its majority. Silva himself was awarded the highest media honorary title, “Vishwa Keerthi Maadya Shoori Jana Prasaada,” by the Government of Sri Lanka in recognition of his service to the nation, and he remains the youngest president in the history of the International Advertising Association Sri Lanka Chapter.

Silva’s tenure at the International Advertising Association was also notable for the creation of the advertising awards known as “Chilies,” developed in collaboration with the 4A’s, a contribution that shaped the broader advertising and media industry well beyond the boundaries of broadcasting. The network’s news division has maintained a reputation for unbiased, comprehensive reporting, with Hiru News delivering corporate, sports, and national news coverage that reaches a wide cross-section of the population through multiple platforms, including SMS and web. These achievements collectively speak to a leadership approach that treats public accountability and institutional integrity as core operational values, not optional considerations.

Final Words

Over nearly three decades, ABC has raised the bar for what a private media network can achieve in South Asia. Alex Sterling, a spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, noted:

“Asia Broadcasting Corporation exemplifies exactly the kind of principled, innovation-driven leadership that a 2026 Global Recognition Award is designed to honor. Its impact on Sri Lanka’s media landscape is both measurable and enduring.”

Under Rayynor Silva’s direction, ABC remains a clear example of how a media organization can achieve sustained market leadership while fulfilling a genuine responsibility to the public.