Radio in Sri Lanka

Radio broadcasting in Sri Lanka dates to 1923. Radio broadcasting, like other forms of media in Sri Lanka, is generally divided along linguistic lines with state and private media operators providing services in Sinhala, Tamil, and English language.

Life in Sri Lanka

History

The first radio broadcast in Ceylon was in 1923 when recorded music was broadcast using parts of radio equipment from a captured German submarine.[1] Regular broadcasting started in Colombo in July 1924.[1] Ceylon's first radio station Radio Colombo started regular broadcasting on 16 December 1925.[2][3] The station was taken over by the British military during World War II who renamed the station Radio SEAC which broadcast across South Asia from October 1944. After the war the station was handed back to the civilian government of Ceylon who renamed it Radio Ceylon on 1 October 1949.[1][3] The station was immensely popular both in Ceylon and other parts of Asia.

The Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 37 of 1966 incorporated the Department of Broadcasting.[2] Radio Ceylon became a public corporation on 30 September 1967, changing its name to Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).[2][3] Ceylon was renamed Sri Lanka in 1972 after becoming a republic and consequently CBC was renamed Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).[2][3]

SLBC broadcast on medium wave until 1993 when FM broadcasting began.[2] 95% of the country received FM transmissions by 1999.[2] The government maintained a monopoly on radio broadcasting until the early 1990s when private radio stations were allowed to broadcast. Today there are numerous private radio stations but the state-owned stations continue to dominate the market.

Radio stations

The following is a list of radio stations based in Sri Lanka.

Station Ownership Owner Language Established FM 1
(MHz)		 FM 2
(MHz)		 Digital
(DRM)		 Internet Website
Aquinas RadioPrivateAquinas University College.Sinhala and English2014N/AN/AN/Aaquinasradio.com
Beat FMPrivateSinhala,English,Tamil2015N/AN/AN/Abeatfm.lk[4]
Buddhist RadioCharitySri Sambodhi Media NetworkSinhala101.3101.5N/Athebuddhist.tv
City FMState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala89.689.8N/Aslbc.lk
CRI Sri LankaPrivateChina Radio InternationalEnglish and Sinhala201097.9N/AN/ACRI Sri Lanka
Daham Gagana RadioCharityEdirisingharama MonasterySinhala2011N/AN/AN/Adahamgagana.com
E FMPrivateEAP Broadcasting CompanyEnglishDecember 199988.3N/AN/Aefm.lk
Everlasting RadioPrivateMJF MediaEnglishN/AN/AN/Aeverlasting.lk
FM99 (defunct by 31 January 1996)PrivateColombo CommunicationsEnglish,Sinhala,Tamil
13 June 199399.0N/AN/AN/A
FM DeranaPrivatePower HouseSinhala29 March 200992.292.4N/Afmderana.lk
Fox FM (formerly New FM, Allai)PrivateAsset Radio BroadcastingEnglish91.4N/AN/Afox914.com
GoldFMPrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationEnglishSeptember 199893.093.2N/Agoldfm.lk
Hiru FMPrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationSinhala199896.196.3N/Ahirufm.lk
IsiraPrivateTelshan NetworksSinhala89.189.3N/Atnltvisira.com
ITN FM (formerly Lakhanda radio)State-ownedIndependent Television NetworkSinhala93.593.7N/Aitnfm.lk
ilamai FMPrivateilamai MediaTamil24 October 2012onlineN/AN/Ahttp://www.ilamaifm.com
Kiss FM (formerly Kiss 898)PrivateVoice of Asia NetworkEnglish13 August 200996.9N/AN/Akissfm.lk
Kirula RadioPrivateSinhalaN/AN/AN/Akirularadio.lk
Kothmale FM / Kotmale Community RadioState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala and Tamil97.6N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
Lak FMPrivateLakview BroadcastingSinhala106.0106.2N/Alakfmradio.com
LakviruPrivateLakviru Radio and Television NetworkN/A105.2105.4N/AN/A
Legends FM (formerly Isura FM, Kirula FM)PrivateMBC NetworksEnglish96.6N/AN/A

legends966.com

Lite 89.2/Lite FMPrivateTNL Radio NetworkEnglish27 February 199987.687.8N/Alitefm
Neth FMPrivateAsset Radio BroadcastingSinhala94.895.0N/Anethfm.com
Pirai FM (Muslim)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationTamil90.1N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
Radio 99PrivateGalle Zone SolutionsSinhalaN/AN/AN/Aradio99.lk
RanOne FM (formerly Ran FM and Raja FM)PrivateEAP Broadcasting CompanySinhala88.1100.5N/Aranfm.lk/
Rangiri Sri LankaCharityRangiri Sri Lanka Media NetworkSinhala104.4105.7N/Arangiri.com
Real RadioPrivateVoice of Asia NetworkEnglish97.1N/AN/Arealradio.lk
Red FMPrivateSky Media NetworkEnglish107.8N/AN/Aredfm.lk
Rhythm World (formerly Asura FM, Rhythm FM)PrivateTNL Radio NetworkSinhala95.695.8N/Arhythmworld.lk
Sabanda RadioPrivateSabanda NetworksSinhala10 October 2015N/AN/AN/Aradio.sabanda.com
Seth FM (Negombo only)PrivateFriend Media NetworkSinhala101.8N/AN/Asethfm.lk
Shaa FM (formerly Tharu FM)PrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationSinhala90.991.1N/Ashaafm.lk
Shakthi FMPrivateMBC NetworksTamil20 November 1998103.9104.1N/Ashakthifm.com
Shree FM (formerly Savana Radio)PrivateEAP Broadcasting CompanySinhala1999100.0100.2N/Ashree.fm
Sitha FM (formerly Singha FM & Youth Radio)PrivateSky Media NetworkSinhala88.688.8N/Asithafm.lk
Sirasa FMPrivateMBC NetworksSinhala2 March 1994106.5106.7N/Asirasa.com
Siyatha FMPrivateVoice of Asia NetworkSinhala98.298.4N/Asiyatha.com
Siyeli HandaCharitySinhala Catholic RadioSinhala2013N/AN/AN/Alankacatholic.com
VidulaState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationEnglish,Sinhala,Tamil
107.3107.5N/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Commercial Service (Velanda Sevaya)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala94.394.5N/Aslbc.lk
Thendral FMState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationTamil104.7104.9N/Aslbc.lk
Radio Sri LankaState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationEnglish97.497.6N/Aslbc.lk
SLBC National Service (Swadeshiya Sevaya)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala91.791.9N/Aslbc.lk
SLBC National ServiceState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationTamil102.1102.3N/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Dabana)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala97.6N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Jaffna)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala/Tamil90.1N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Kandurata Sevaya)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala/Tamil107.3N/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Rajarata Sevaya)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala107.3N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Ruhunu Sevaya)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala107.3107.5N/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Uva)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala107.3N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Regional Service (Wayamba Handa)State-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSinhala90.1N/AN/AN/Aslbc.lk
SLBC Sports ServiceState-ownedSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationEnglish,Sinhala,Tamil
107.3107.5N/AN/Aslbc.lk
Sooriyan FMPrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationTamil103.4103.6N/Asooriyanfm.lk
Sun FMPrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationEnglish98.798.9N/Asunfm.lk
Rasa FM ( Formally Tamil FM)PrivateSky Media NetworkSinhala99.599.7N/A
Tamil2 FMprivateTamil 2TamilJanuary 2016N/AN/AN/Atamil2fm.com
Tamilaruvi RadioprivateNorth East MediaTamilMay 2011N/AN/AN/Atafm24.com
Thaalam FMPrivateYellowin MediaTamilN/AN/AN/Athaalamradio.com
TharuPrivateSinhalaN/AN/AN/Atharu.net
TNL Radio (formerly TNL Rocks)PrivateTNL Radio NetworkEnglish99.2101.8N/Atnlradio.com
V FMPrivateLanka Television NetworkSinhala107.0N/AN/Avfmradio.lk
Vasantham FMState-ownedIndependent Television NetworkTamil102.6102.8N/Avasanthamfm.lk
Varnam FM (formerly Vettri FM)PrivateVoice of Asia NetworkTamil11 February 200890.490.6N/Avarnamfm.com
Capital Radio (formerly Sath FM)PrivateSat NetSinhala94.0N/AN/Avipradiosl.com
Y FMPrivateMBC NetworksSinhala1 December 200592.7N/AN/Ayfm.lk
Yes FMPrivateMBC NetworksEnglish10 December 1993100.8101.0N/Ayesfmonline.com
yaathra fm(formerly you fm, MAX Radio)PrivateMGM NetworksSinhala10 September 200695.3N/AN/AN/Ayaathrafm.lk

International broadcasters

Several international broadcasters operate radio stations aimed at Sri Lankan audiences but broadcasting from outside Sri Lanka:

Some broadcasters use local transmitters to relay their broadcasts. Deutsche Welle broadcasts are relayed via Trincomalee on medium wave and short wave. Trans World Radio India broadcasts on medium wave using SLBC's transmitter in Puttalam. The International Broadcasting Bureau broadcasts programmes from Voice of America, Radio Azadi, Radio Free Afghanistan, Radio Free Asia, Radio Liberty and Radio Sawa on short wave using the relay station at Iranawila.

See also

References
  • "FM Channel Assignment Plan" (PDF). Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. 1 May 2015.
  • Alan G. Davies. "Radio Stations in Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  1. Sterling, Christopher H. (2003). Encyclopedia of Radio: Volume 1. Taylor & Francis. p. 166. ISBN 0-203-48428-2.
  2. "From Radio Ceylon to SLBC". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 25 January 2009.
  3. Sambandan, V. S. (1 January 2006). "When Ceylon ruled the airwaves". The Hindu.
  4. "Beat FM". beatfm.lk. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
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