Every weekday morning, as the sun rises over Sri Lanka, viewers of Sirasa TV are invited into a space where ideas matter and knowledge leads the way. ‘Pathikada’, which is hosted by veteran journalist Asoka Dias, has become a hallmark of intelligent broadcasting. Delivering timely, thought-provoking conversations on science, health, technology, governance, and social change, ‘Pathikada’ has helped provide insights into what would otherwise have been complicated matters that impact the lives of the public.
What sets ‘Pathikada’ apart from other educational programs is its ability to take complex concepts and present them in a way that is accessible, relevant, and impactful to its viewers. These are often technical subjects which confuse the common man. The episodes feature experts from different fields and also offer a platform for meaningful dialogue. It bridges the gap between academic expertise and public awareness. It is guided by a clear commitment to education and civic engagement.
‘Pathikada’ was awarded the Sumathi Award for Best Educational Television Programme in 2025 on July 15 in recognition of its outstanding contribution to educational media. This accolade is a celebration of raising the standard of television journalism in Sri Lanka.
“The Sinhala term ‘Pathikada’ means ‘dimensions’ in English. It is not merely a headline but has many facets, including historical, political, legal and economic ones. My goal is to peel back the layers of these so that the viewers can understand not only what happened but also why and how it matters,” Dias explained the vision behind ‘Pathikada’.
Incisive interviewing style
With the Sumathi Award for Best Educational Television Program in 2025
Dias’ calm yet incisive interviewing style has become a signature of the show. Launched 10 years ago, this program was originally helmed by renowned journalist Bandula Jayasekara. Then, after around five years, when Jayasekara became critically ill, Dias took over, but began presenting it in his own inimitable style. After more than a decade, it is one of the country’s most trusted sources of informed discussion in the early hours of the day.
“We basically look to offer the Sri Lankan Sinhala-speaking audience a current affairs program early morning to discuss, analyse and give an opportunity to critically understand and unpack the news stories. Though there was a difference in focus after I became the presenter, the format did not change,” Dias said.
One of Pathikada’s unique strengths is its ability to connect scientific disciplines with everyday social concerns. Topics span across various fields like medicine, engineering, agriculture, digital technology, bioethics, mental health, public policy, and civic governance. By hosting authoritative experts and grounding discussion in a real‑world context, the show advances public understanding and encourages intellectual curiosity.
The most outstanding episodes are probably the three that focused on the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount. This cobalt-rich undersea mountain, which is more than 1,000 kilometres South of Sri Lanka, has drawn attention from nations across the world. Dias organised panels of legal professionals, scientists, and geopolitical analysts to examine this topic on how Sri Lanka can assert its rights under maritime law for this seamount.
He got experts like retired Rear Admiral Y N Jayarathne, of the Sri Lankan Navy, who is skilled in Rear Hydrography, Maritime Operations, Asymmetric Warfare at Sea, Maritime Security, Defence, and Command, to elaborate on the topic first. Later, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, Director, Centre for Environmental Justice, spoke about this subject. The duo discussed the international maritime law aspect of this in the second episode of the series. The third episode was with Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda. Dias tackled the geopolitical aspect of the matter with him during this half hour. It was the discussion with Dr.Dabare that won the Sumathi Award for the program.
“The common man does not know these terms, so we need to explain them to these people. Then only they will be able to grasp the core of the subject. Since the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount is in the sea of Sri Lanka, we can make claims about it. We did an investigative type of series – three episodes – in 2024. Sri Lanka filed its application to claim ownership only on the last day. India, Bangladesh and China have also shown interest. If we dig up this seamount, we would be able to pay more than 70 percent of our national debt. Though we have applied, the process of ownership is not finalised yet,” he said, adding that all three episodes were done during the period of consideration.
“We haven’t given up on the dialogue and are still interviewing people about it. We update and give society other aspects and dimensions on this,” Dias added.
‘Pathikada’ is based on one-on-one interviews, which are very popular among the television audience. Generally, one-on-one interviews have not won awards in the category of education in Sri Lankan television history before this.
Good opening
Winning the Science Communication Award presented by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
“Winning the award is a good opening for us. We have been recognised for the program’s educational value. We are exploring the possibility of utilising the television format of one-to-one interviews as a tool for edutainment for the general public, especially during the morning hours. In the Sri Lankan context, we are yet to fully understand lifelong education.
Continuous education is the name of the game today. This award has given us the confidence that we can play a more vital role in supporting and opening up for continuous education. We talk about VAT, APIT tax, and PAYE tax during news bulletins. The general viewer might not know the difference between these forms of taxes. People need to be aware of the nuances and the historical background of these to make sense of them and make informed decisions. We look forward to doing more experiments and branching into diverse topics,” he said.
From the start of his career as a science communicator, Dias has focused on bringing accurate scientific knowledge to the general public in the Sinhala language. He earned the SLAAS Media Award in December 2022 for his contributions to popularising science.
Known for his ability to present complex information in accessible language, Dias’ interviewing style is calm but probing. He has a respectful yet purposeful tone. He balances technical insight with human stories. He also helps the audience connect facts to the realities of life. His credibility as a communicator and network director also instils gravity and trust in each of the episodes he anchors. He was recognised by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and was presented with the Media Award for science communication in December 2022.
This recognition came specifically for his role in ‘Pathikada’ and his efforts to popularise scientific thought across multiple disciplines. He currently serves as a Director at Sirasa Media Network (MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd and MBC Networks (Pvt) Ltd), the media house behind News 1st and Sirasa TV.
