Stage set for Ranaviru Real Star Mission iii - The Ultimate 12

Rasika Somarathna

The Ranaviru Real Star Mission iii - The Ultimate 12, is all set to take local reality TV to a new high, with some added innovative features to entertain fans via Jathika Rupavahini.

The 12 finalists of the Ranaviru Real Star Mission iii - The ultimate 12. Picture by Ranjith Asanka

The event organised by the Defence and Urban Development Ministry is the world's

only reality initiative of the Armed Forces and has helped pave way for a new concept within the Armed Forces. The initiative, a brain child of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has completed two highly successful seasons and will launch the finale of its third session shortly with the final 12.

Other countries that have gone through a similar situation like Sri Lanka and the subsequent post war rehabilitation have usually only relied on traditional methods. The RRS has given Armed forces personnel a novel way of expressing their aesthetic talents, going beyond their routine duties and portraying themselves to the public in a different manner.

At media briefing in Colombo on Tuesday, Media Centre for National Security Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said the contest involving the final 12 remaining contestants will see some innovative features, never seen before on local reality TV. He added that a new and enhanced prize structure too will be on offer for the winners.

According to the event's main sponsor 'Dialog Axiata', supporters and fans can be a part of the new ranking system during the show, as they will be given the opportunity to play a role in increasing their candidates point percentages.

The winners will be chosen by calculating cumulative points given by a special panel of judges and through public SMS responses. Presidential Spokesman and Rupavahini Corporation chairman Mohan Samaranayake said the National TV was all set to air the show with prime time allocation for the benefit of viewers. He described the event as not just a musical extravaganza but an event deserving national status.

Previous Ranaviru Real Star Mission I & II Reality Shows drew a mammoth public response, supplemented with a record four million SMS senders. It was described as a novel concept and earned a name as the most watched among millions of music-lovers across the country.

Actor Jackson Anthony and Chief of Staff of the Army Major Gen. Daya Ratnayake described the event as a tribute to the commitment of War Heroes of our times.

The winner will receive a house worth of Rs 20 million and other prizes and others according to their rankings will receive valuable prizes which will not be less than Rs 100,000.