Three countries commenced regular radio broadcasting three years after Britain which began in 1922. These countries were Japan, Peru and Ceylon. A 250 watt transmitter was built by a few engineers in the then Central Telegraph Office making use of some components from ship to shore radio apparatus. The engineers who were responsible were Messrs E Harper, A Nadarasa, W E de Silva and B Wijetilleke. Music from a gramophone was transmitted by placing a microphone in front of it and this took place in the CTO building When it comes to the history of broadcasting, Ceylon plays a very important role alongside the United States of America, Great Britain and Germany.
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| Radio Ceylon reception report from California |
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| Radio Ceylon Staff in 1941 |
Harper also founded the Ceylon Wireless Club together with British and Ceylonese radio enthusiasts in the city of Colombo. These were exciting times where radio in South Asia was concerned. Many regard Edward Harper as 'the Father of Broadcasting in Ceylon.' In 1926 a studio was opened at the University College to improve sound quality and “ comfort of the artistes. On the 11th Nov 1927, the address of the Prince of Wales at the Albert hall Memorial Festival, was relayed for the first time. Although there were fading and the received signal was weak, audience reaction was very encouraging By Dec 1927, the broadcasting equipment was shifted to the Torrington Square, carrying every item connected with broadcasting under one roof. April 1928 marked the first “bana” (Buddhist serman) broadcast in April and to date it remains a regular feature.
In May
1928,the Radio Club of Ceylon and South India ( former Colombo Radio Society)
appealed for funds to provide receiving sets to the various
hospitals and other charitable institutions in Ceylon. The Colombo Radio Society was founded
in 1922 and was renamed the Radio Club of Ceylon and South India in 1923. The following
were Founder members, Messrs L Mackey, M S Rockwood, C A Hudson, E J Holsinger, R F
Dias and J S Dinwid .
A 2kW medium wave transmitter was introduced
in 1930 and in 1937 a 5 kW designed by a Sri Lankan engineer, Mr Nadarasa, and a
transmission room was declared open on the 6thJune by Major J L Kotalawela, Minister of
Transport and Works.1940 - The appointment of a Special Commission with Sir
Kandiah Vaithianathan, as chairman, to
report on all aspects of broadcasting.
The number of licences in Ceylon reached
10,000 When the World War II commenced,
the broadcasting station at the Torrington Square had to be shifted to “The Bower”- a private house on
Cota Road on the 3rd Sept 1942, since the Royal
Airforce moved into the Race Course, which had been converted to an air-strip.During
World War II the radio station operations were taken over by the allied forces
who operated Radio SEAC from Colombo. The station
was handed over to the Government of Ceylon after World War II.
Wartime Radio in Ceylon
Lord Louis Mountbatten moved the RADIO SEAC
operations from New Delhi first to Kandy and then to Colombo during World War II.
This was Ceylon's first ever wartime radio station and it played a vital role from
1944 - 1946. Radio SEAC played a vital
role during World War II broadcasting for 18-20 hours on the 19 meter band at 15.120 mhz. A powerful shortwave
transmitter was set up in Ekala, the announcers
operated from the studios in Colombo.
The construction of the present building at the Torrington Square commenced in 1947 and was completed in 1949., With a studio complex of ten studios including an auditorium and three production studios and three Continuity studios for English, Sinhala and Tamil built by the renowned British architect Wynn Jones.All ten studios were equipped with Marconi consoles which really stood the test of time till the 1990’s. The testimony that the acoustics of these studios are to this day within acceptable limits shows the high standard of engineering of that era.
The South East Asia Command radio station in Ceylon was transferred to the Govt of Ceylon, which included a 7 1/2kW and a 100kW transmitters at Ekala. Construction of this station started in 1941 and was commissioned in 1943/4 with a 100kW Marconi transmitter which is still in use This transmitting station was used by the forces to broadcast to SE Asia through a studio set up at 191, Turret Road. After the broadcasting station came under the purviewof the Dept Of Broadcasting, the station was shifted to the Torrington Square on the 1st Jan 1950. In the same year the commercial broadcasting service, under Mr Clifford Dodd was inaugurated.
The construction of the present building at the Torrington Square commenced in 1947 and was completed in 1949., With a studio complex of ten studios including an auditorium and three production studios and three Continuity studios for English, Sinhala and Tamil built by the renowned British architect Wynn Jones.All ten studios were equipped with Marconi consoles which really stood the test of time till the 1990’s. The testimony that the acoustics of these studios are to this day within acceptable limits shows the high standard of engineering of that era.
The South East Asia Command radio station in Ceylon was transferred to the Govt of Ceylon, which included a 7 1/2kW and a 100kW transmitters at Ekala. Construction of this station started in 1941 and was commissioned in 1943/4 with a 100kW Marconi transmitter which is still in use This transmitting station was used by the forces to broadcast to SE Asia through a studio set up at 191, Turret Road. After the broadcasting station came under the purviewof the Dept Of Broadcasting, the station was shifted to the Torrington Square on the 1st Jan 1950. In the same year the commercial broadcasting service, under Mr Clifford Dodd was inaugurated.
Radio licenses grew to 20,000. Broadcasting in
three languages was also started in 1950 under the Director Generalship of Mr John Lampson, the
first Head of the new Dept. Mr.Fletcher was the first chief Engineer of Radio Ceylon . It was the second of two transmitters that were shipped to Ceylon
during the war.
The first shipment was sunk by a German torpedo off the coast
and now lies beneath the Indian
ocean. Radio SEAC ( South east asia command) continued till 1949 when it was taken over by Radio Ceylon. The number of licenses had reached 27,000.On the 5th Aug 1952, the first Sri Lankan Director General , Mr M J Perera, the ex Chairman of SLRC Sri Lanka Rupavahini [TV] Corporation) was appointed and the Chief Engineer at the time was Mr N S Wickramasinghe. The Engineers and Technical officers of Radio Ceylon comprised mostly those of Radio SEAC seconded for service at Radio Ceylon. To name a few: Mr.R.E.H.Perera, Mr.L.E.Tillekeratna,Mr.Freddie Gomez,Mr. Noel Goonesekera, Mr.A.F.M.Perera, Mr.K.M.C.Jayawardana, Mr.Tudor Perera,Mr.Gerald Holsinger, Mr.Block, and Mr.C.deSilva. The Voice of America Receiving station was commissioned in 1955 at Seeduwa, though the transmitting facility was in use from the 15th April 1953 The Medium wave transmission of Radio Ceylon was from the telecommunication facility at Welikade on using a 10Kw transmitters
A new transmitting station was commissioned in 1959 at Diyagama which still transmits on medium wave to the western province and Installation at Torrington square of six AWA, FM
transmitters each having a output power of 100 watts as a pilot FM (mono) project for the city of
Colombo, and as a programme feed to Ekala and Diyagama transmitting stations replacing the underground cable. Another in Kandy in 1960 on an experimental basis. 1964- A Training school for Technical and Programme staff was established at Torrington square premises with aid given by the British Council. Mr. John Hunt was in charge of the technical section and Mr. Stuart Wavell in charge of the programme Section.
ocean. Radio SEAC ( South east asia command) continued till 1949 when it was taken over by Radio Ceylon. The number of licenses had reached 27,000.On the 5th Aug 1952, the first Sri Lankan Director General , Mr M J Perera, the ex Chairman of SLRC Sri Lanka Rupavahini [TV] Corporation) was appointed and the Chief Engineer at the time was Mr N S Wickramasinghe. The Engineers and Technical officers of Radio Ceylon comprised mostly those of Radio SEAC seconded for service at Radio Ceylon. To name a few: Mr.R.E.H.Perera, Mr.L.E.Tillekeratna,Mr.Freddie Gomez,Mr. Noel Goonesekera, Mr.A.F.M.Perera, Mr.K.M.C.Jayawardana, Mr.Tudor Perera,Mr.Gerald Holsinger, Mr.Block, and Mr.C.deSilva. The Voice of America Receiving station was commissioned in 1955 at Seeduwa, though the transmitting facility was in use from the 15th April 1953 The Medium wave transmission of Radio Ceylon was from the telecommunication facility at Welikade on using a 10Kw transmitters
A new transmitting station was commissioned in 1959 at Diyagama which still transmits on medium wave to the western province and Installation at Torrington square of six AWA, FM
transmitters each having a output power of 100 watts as a pilot FM (mono) project for the city of
Colombo, and as a programme feed to Ekala and Diyagama transmitting stations replacing the underground cable. Another in Kandy in 1960 on an experimental basis. 1964- A Training school for Technical and Programme staff was established at Torrington square premises with aid given by the British Council. Mr. John Hunt was in charge of the technical section and Mr. Stuart Wavell in charge of the programme Section.
In 1965 an experimental station was installed
in Anuradhapura. VHF was introduced in 1962 as a program link between studio center in Colombo and
the transmitting stations at Ekala and Diyagama.
On the 4th Jan 1962, the technical staff in
the Dept of Broadcasting ( Radio Ceylon) created history by being the first in a broadcasting
station to go on strike. They went on strike in sympathy with the harbour workers and it
continued for a month until 8 engineers who were arrested for alleged sabotage were released.
1965- A VHF relay station was established at
Uda Radella by Mr.David Buell who was Engineer
Transmitters. Programmes were received from Colombo on VHF
The Hulugalle commission report in 1965 recommended that the Dept of Broadcasting be made a corporation and in 1966 the relevant Act was approved in Parliament. On the 5th Jan 1967 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, as it is known today was formed, with Mr Neville Jayaweera as the first Chairman and the Director General of the corporation. MR. N.S.Wickkramasinghe was the 1st chief engineer. When Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972 the station underwent yet another name change as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
1968 –Under phase one of a West German aid programme, Regional Transmitting stations on
Medium wave were set up at Weeraketiya , Maho, Ambewela, Kantale and Mandathivu. to enable a broader segment of the population to receive clear reception.
1969- Under phase one of a West German aid programme, Regional Transmitting stations on
Medium wave were set up at Weeraketiya , Maho, Ambewela, Kantale and Mandathivu. to
enable a broader segment of the population to receive clear reception.
The Hulugalle commission report in 1965 recommended that the Dept of Broadcasting be made a corporation and in 1966 the relevant Act was approved in Parliament. On the 5th Jan 1967 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, as it is known today was formed, with Mr Neville Jayaweera as the first Chairman and the Director General of the corporation. MR. N.S.Wickkramasinghe was the 1st chief engineer. When Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972 the station underwent yet another name change as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
1968 –Under phase one of a West German aid programme, Regional Transmitting stations on
Medium wave were set up at Weeraketiya , Maho, Ambewela, Kantale and Mandathivu. to enable a broader segment of the population to receive clear reception.
1969- Under phase one of a West German aid programme, Regional Transmitting stations on
Medium wave were set up at Weeraketiya , Maho, Ambewela, Kantale and Mandathivu. to
enable a broader segment of the population to receive clear reception.
1969-Phase two and three of the above project covered Ampara,Mahiyangana, Ratnapura and
Kandy.
.
1969- FM transmitting station constructed at Ensalwatte ,Deniyaya under the West German aid
programme and made operational to feed Weeraketiya MW transmitting station. Programmes
received from Colombo via Uda Radella Transmitters broadcasting programmes in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages and were heard throughout out Sri Lanka till the advent island wide FM broadcasting in the late 1970’s which to a great extent replaced MW broadcasting for convenience and quality.
The programme feed to these regional transmitters
was very conveniently relayed from the UDA Radella transmitting facility. It also became a linking and relay point
for outside broadcasts from various parts of the country. A training Institute
headed by Mr Stuwart Wavell (from the BBC) was inaugurated in 1970, where
training classes for program and technical
staff were held. That being the first time organized training was conducted in broadcasting in Sri Lanka.
The period 1971- 1977 witnessed the following
developments and the appointment of Mr D Buell as the Director Engineering who first joined Radio
Ceylon as a technical assistant in 1948. 1971
Mr. Lal Herath who was from the OTS , joined SLBC and was appointed
Superintending Engineer Transmitters,
while Mr.R.E.H.Perera was appointed Superintending Engineer Studios.
1975- An experimental FM Stereo broadcast to
cover the Colombo district in addition to the pilot project for the city was initiated by Mr.
David Buell from the VHF room in Colombo. Fm receivers were few at that time but
nevertheless reception reports received were many.
On the basis of these reports two 1Kw transmitters were
installed at Colombo and Radella to provide a FM service to Colombo and the Central province as a pilot project
A Micro wave transmission to relay programmes
to the Ekala SW station and Diyagama MW station
was inaugurated in preparation for the non aligned conference that was to
follow.
1975- A regional MW station called Rajarata
Sevaya was inaugurated receiving its programmes via Uda Radella. Later it was upgraded to a full
fledge FM broadcast station with studios in the
1980’s.
After 1977 there were several advancements in broadcasting. Regional studios were setup at
Matara, Kandy and Jaffna, to promote more public participation and to produce more programs of regional relevance
1978 - A feasibility survey was initiated by the government and the Japanese government, through SLBC to study the possibility of introducing an all island TV project. The study was a success and the Japanese government offered Sri Lanka a National TV station. Mr.David Buell (DDGE) was in charge
In Dec 1978, conducted experimental broadcasting in FM Stereo with some modified equipment. The response from the listeners was so encouraging the SLBC decided to purchase the necessary equipment for a regular stereo broadcast and in 1984 this service was inaugurated
Phase III ( the last of the medium wave expansion projects) which included transmitters at Kantalai, Mahiyangana, Ambewela and Ratnapura). An additional VHF transmitter at Karagahathenna
1980’s.
After 1977 there were several advancements in broadcasting. Regional studios were setup at
Matara, Kandy and Jaffna, to promote more public participation and to produce more programs of regional relevance
1978 - A feasibility survey was initiated by the government and the Japanese government, through SLBC to study the possibility of introducing an all island TV project. The study was a success and the Japanese government offered Sri Lanka a National TV station. Mr.David Buell (DDGE) was in charge
In Dec 1978, conducted experimental broadcasting in FM Stereo with some modified equipment. The response from the listeners was so encouraging the SLBC decided to purchase the necessary equipment for a regular stereo broadcast and in 1984 this service was inaugurated
Phase III ( the last of the medium wave expansion projects) which included transmitters at Kantalai, Mahiyangana, Ambewela and Ratnapura). An additional VHF transmitter at Karagahathenna
1979- while on a FS survey at Pidurutalagala Mr Buell fell ill and passed away.As Mr. Lal Herath S.E. was on no pay leave on an assignment in the UAE, Mr.Rukmin Wijemanne was
appointed as DDGE to fill the void created by the demise of Mr. Buell.
1981- Ruhunu Sevaya of SLBC inaugurated at Matara
1981- Mr.Rukmin Wijemanne moved over to the National TV and Mr. Palman was appointed
DDGE.
1983- A Mahaweli Community Radio with the auspices of the Danish Government was inaugurated at Girundarakotte, Mahaillupalama and later at Kotmale to educate the farmers on modern cultivation methods to obtain higher yields. The head office was in Kandy.
Deuteschwelle (Radio Germany) in the mean time negotiated with the Sri Lanka Govt. to set up a regional relay station in Sri Lanka. The proposal was approved and the work commenced in Nilaweli, Trincomalee. The site was an old building which the BBC built for a transmitting station during the war and abandoned. The phase I of this project included two 300 kW, a 250 kW short wave transmitters and a 600 kW medium wave transmitter.
1983- A Regional station “Mahanuwara Sevaya”
complete with studios was established in Kandy
1983- Also saw the foundation being laid for another FM station to cover the North Central Province and the Eastern Province at Karagahatenne in the Matale district.
1983- Also saw the foundation being laid for another FM station to cover the North Central Province and the Eastern Province at Karagahatenne in the Matale district.
1984- Mr.Lionel Pinto was appointed as DDGE
1986- Karagahatenne FM Transmitting station
made operational using 1KW transmitters.
1990- A 2Kw. FM transmitter and a studio was established within the precincts of the army camp at Palaly to provide music and news to the residents of Jaffna and to the service personal in the peninsula. Messer’s Upali Jayasinhe and Tilak Ranasinghe assisted by Manikdiwela and Bamunusinghe pioneered this project
1990- A 2Kw. FM transmitter and a studio was established within the precincts of the army camp at Palaly to provide music and news to the residents of Jaffna and to the service personal in the peninsula. Messer’s Upali Jayasinhe and Tilak Ranasinghe assisted by Manikdiwela and Bamunusinghe pioneered this project
1992- Under a grant from the Japanese
government plans were drawn to establish a new studio complex, Auditorium and Control room in the
SLBC premises. It was also proposed to install new FM STEREO transmitters to cover the
Colombo District and reequip the Outside Broadcast section and provide an OB transmission bus.
1992- Mr. LAL Herath appointed as Addl. DDGE.
1992- A pilot project was launched at
Hunnasgiriya to provide FM coverage to Kandy.
1993- The new studio complex and FM
transmitters under the grant from the government of Japan was declared open by President
D.B.Wijetunge.
1993- New studio complex for Ruhunu sevaya
was declared open by the Chairman of S.L.B.C. Mr. Kumara Abeysinghe.
.
1994- A new FM transmitting station to cover the southern province and the NCP was established and inaugurated by the Minister of Broadcasting and information Mr. Tyronne
Fernando.
.
1994- A new FM transmitting station to cover the southern province and the NCP was established and inaugurated by the Minister of Broadcasting and information Mr. Tyronne
Fernando.
1997- A FM transmission station to partly
cover the South and the entire Colombo district was
established at Yatiyantota.
established at Yatiyantota.
1997- The FM station at Hunnasgiriya was made
operational with seven transmitters
2002- A Digital Micro wave project was initiated to replace the existing VHF programme feed.
The base station was at Yatiyantota linking Karagahatenne, Hunnasgiriya, Nayabedde thru Kikiliyamana. The programme feed was fed from Colombo to Yatiyantota base station. The
equipment was provided by Moseley Electronics, USA.
2002- A Digital Micro wave project was initiated to replace the existing VHF programme feed.
The base station was at Yatiyantota linking Karagahatenne, Hunnasgiriya, Nayabedde thru Kikiliyamana. The programme feed was fed from Colombo to Yatiyantota base station. The
equipment was provided by Moseley Electronics, USA.
2005 December 5th Sri Lanka celebrated eighty
years in broadcasting, a historic landmark
in the world of broadcasting.
in the world of broadcasting.
2007January 5th Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
celebrated forty years as a public broadcasting
corporation.
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