By Ruwini Jayawardana/Sunday Observer

Colombo, December 14 – The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on Tuesday, December 16. This marks a full century since a simple radio experiment in Colombo grew into Asia’s oldest radio station and one of the most influential public broadcasters in the region.

Over the past hundred years, the SLBC has shaped culture, carried news across the island, supported education, and connected Sri Lankans living at home and abroad. Its history is filled with innovation, resilience, and the commitment of many pioneering personalities.

The story of the SLBC began on December 16, 1925. Sir Edward B. Denham, the British Governor of Ceylon, made the first official broadcast from a small room at the Central Telegraph Station in Colombo. At that time, only a handful of people owned radios, and broadcasting was still a new and exciting idea worldwide. Sri Lanka or Ceylon as it was then known, however, became one of the first countries in Asia to embrace this new technology. The early broadcasts were simple. These were music played from gramophone records, short speeches, and live announcements.

The early station was named ‘Radio Ceylon’. It evolved from a small experimental setup to a full-service radio station within a short period. By the 1930s, Radio Ceylon was broadcasting news, entertainment programs, educational talks, and music in all three languages Sinhala, Tamil and English. This wide range of content helped it reach listeners from all communities and build a national audience.

Radio Ceylon’s popularity rose sharply after World War II. Many soldiers stationed in Asia learned about the station and tuned in regularly. After the war ended, this helped Radio Ceylon gain international recognition. It became famous for its clear audio quality and friendly presentation style.

Radio Ceylon began to shine again during the late 1940s and early 1950s, as a regional leader in broadcasting. One of the most important developments was the establishment of the Commercial Service. It broadcasted lively music shows, advertisements, and sponsored programs. It attracted audiences from countries such as India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Middle East. At one point, Radio Ceylon had millions of listeners across South Asia, which was more than any other station in the region.

Legendary Artistes

Many legendary broadcasters helped Radio Ceylon build its reputation. Among them was Clifford Dodd, an Australian administrator, who had been brought in to modernise and improve operations. Under his leadership, the station introduced a professional training project for announcers, created more structured programming, and improved technical quality. His work changed the face of Radio Ceylon. It transformed from a simple broadcaster to a polished, confident institution.

Another famous name is V.A. Gaffoorm. He was known for his warm style. He became one of the best-loved announcers in Sri Lanka and helped develop the art of radio presentation.

Livy Wijemanne is another pioneer who played a key role in program production and was instrumental in creating rich, local content for the station. Vernon Corea, Pearl Ondaatje, Greg Roskowski, Tim Horshington, Claude Selveratnam, Jimmy Bharucha, Thevis Guruge, Chitrananda Abesekara, A.W. Dharmapala, Karunartne Abesekera, Premakeerthi de Alwis, H.M. Gunasekara, S.P. Mylvaganam, Gnanam Rathnam, Nihal Bharati, Leon Belleth, and Dr. Vijaya Corea are a few other people who have also done yeoman service to its growth and popularity.

The Commercial Service also produced iconic presenters who became household names across South Asia. One of the most internationally admired was Ameen Sayani, who presented the popular show Binaca Geetmala. Although he was Indian, the program was produced in Radio Ceylon’s studios and broadcast from Colombo. Sayani’s show became so popular that millions tuned in each week to listen to Hindi film songs.

Radio Ceylon became more than a broadcaster for the local audience. It was a companion in everyday life. The morning news set the tone for the day, while the dramas, musical programs, and religious broadcasts were quite engaging and entertaining. Many children learned lessons, poems, and songs from the radio programs. The station played a major role in teaching English and local languages. It raised awareness about health issues, public safety, and national events.

Cultural Treasures

Many legendary Sri Lankan artistes, such as Sunil Shantha, Ananda Samarakoon, and Rukmani Devi, reached the public through Radio Ceylon. The station encouraged the development of Sinhala music and drama. The early Sinhala musical recordings made in its studios are still considered cultural treasures.

In 1967, Radio Ceylon became a State Corporation. After the country changed its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka in 1972, the station officially became the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). This transition marked a new era for them. The SLBC was no longer just a radio station with commercial success. It became the national public broadcaster, responsible for delivering accurate information, supporting culture, and promoting national unity.

During Director General R. Thilakeratne’s tenure, many cutting-edge programs were introduced. This was a golden age for a new generation of musicians, vocalists, and composers. Subavitha Geethaya, Muwan Palessa, and Lama Pitiya were broadcast during this period and gained enormous popularity among the audience. Numerous well-known composers, singers, musicians, and lyricists became well-known by taking part in these performances.

Pandith Amaradewa, Nanda Malani, Ananda Samarakoon, Sunil Shanatha, Narada Disasekara, Sunil Edirisinghe, Malani Bulathsinhala, Premasiri Kemadasa, Lionel Algama, Rohana Weerasinghe, Sunil Sarath Perera, Sunil Ariyaratne, and many more experienced singers, composers, and lyricists are among them.

K. D. K. Dharmawardena, Palitha Perera, Mohan Samaranayake, Punya Lokuliyana, Bertie Galahitiyawa, Amarabandu Rupasinghe, Dalton de Alwis, and Ranjith Dharmakeerthi were some of the most prominent critics during this span.

Parliamentary Sessions

Under Government leadership, the SLBC started new services. It expanded regional broadcasting to cover remote areas such as the North Central Province, Uva, and the deep South. News divisions were strengthened. Special units were created for education, rural development, and community support. The SLBC also began broadcasting parliamentary sessions. This gave the public direct access to democratic processes.

The late 20th century brought new challenges. Television entered Sri Lanka in 1979, reducing the monopoly of radio. Private FM stations were launched in the 1990s, offering fresh, youth-focused content. To stay relevant, SLBC began upgrading its technology, strengthening FM transmission, and adding new channels.

The SLBC’s City FM service, Ran FM, and Sinhala National Service became popular among different listener groups. New Tamil and English services targeted younger audiences. The SLBC also expanded into digital platforms with online streaming, social media, and mobile apps. Although competition grew, the SLBC remained an important voice because of its deep roots and national responsibility.

Over the years, the SLBC has played a vital role during national crises. During difficult times such as natural disasters and violent conflicts, the station became a lifeline. Its announcements coordinated rescue missions, warned communities, and shared reliable information when other communication channels failed.

During floods, cyclones, and the 2004 tsunami, the SLBC’s broadcasts helped to save lives. The radio remained dependable and accessible even in remote villages without television or the Internet. This role that the channel plays as a trusted source of information is one of the reasons SLBC continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankans.

Hundred and Counting

Celebrating 100 years is a triumph for any broadcaster, as it is quite rare. The centenary marks a journey of resilience and renewal for the SLBC. The SLBC has become part of Sri Lanka’s identity, emerging from a small room in a telegraph office to a national and regional institution.

SLBC Chairman Dr. Uditha Gayashan told the Sunday Observer that the media advances along with technology. Communities, knowledge, and subjective formations are all connected via media.

“As a national radio, we have a greater responsibility. We prioritise fostering society’s humanity and future rather than merely surviving. By adhering to journalistic ethics, we also focus on building a brighter future for the country. This has been our strategy for the past century and will remain so for the upcoming century,” he said.

On this special day, many distinguished invitees have been invited to take part in the celebrations that will start on Monday with a Pirith sermon and an alms-giving on Tuesday. The SLBC will broadcast live coverage with multi-religious programs, conducting discussions with broadcasting veterans, playing Sinhala anniversary songs, presenting a brief program about its history and getting many past announcers to visit the studios and have discussions with them till nightfall on the anniversary day. In addition, the University of Kelaniya will organise a symposium to mark this occasion.

As the SLBC steps into its second century, its mission to inform, educate, and entertain continues. The world of media is changing fast, but the radio still remains powerful. Voices can reach places that signals and screens cannot. For older listeners, the SLBC is a familiar friend. For younger audiences, it is modernising and expanding into digital spaces with podcasts and online broadcasts. All in all, SLBC signifies the achievement of surviving, adapting, and continuing to serve.

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