A BRIEF ACCOUNT ON RADIO IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON ) – Part 2
Dates and events of Sri Lanka’s radio broadcasting are included in this diary in a nutshell.
Broadcasting in Ceylon was inaugurated on 17th June 1924 by the governor Sir William Henry Manning.After nearly one and half years , on 16th December 1925 the new transmitter with a power of 1 kwt. was inaugurated by Sir Hugh Clifford. From the YMCA building , the studios and the control -room were transferred to Torrington Square in 1927. The very first Sinhala talk on radio was delivered by Pandit P.T.Gunawardena on 28th February 1928. Ven.Pelane Vagiagnana Thero delivered the first Sinhala Buddhist sermon (Bana) on 21st April 1928. It should be noted that all the programmes during this period were transmitted on a medium wave transmitter.Meanwhile in 1934 , an experiments on short wave transmitting was carried out to faclitate listners in the north,hill country and southern province. In 1936 a more powerful medium wave transmitter of 5kwt. was installed . A further improvement was done in 1941 by installing a 7.5kwt. MW transmitter.
The BBC sinhala magazine programme ‘ Sandesaya’ was started on 27th march 1942. Mr. shirley da Silva who was the superintendent of broadcasting was keen , concentrating on oriental programmes over Ceylon radio.However he relinquished his duties on 1st August 1942. Mr. H. de S.Gunawardena was appointed on acting basis and was confirmed on 1st of august 1943. Colombo radio station at Torrington Square was compelled to shift to Bower House at Borella in September 1942 due to the occupation by the Royal Air Force. In 1948 Mr. mark Antony Fernando was appointed as an announcer of the english service.
Another appoinment to the engineering department of Radio Ceylon was done in 1948 on February 1st.That was Mr. R.E.H.perera as an assistant engineer.In addition to the already excisting MW transmitter a second was installed and came into operation in July 1948.The programme sevices moved back to Torrington in 1950. Same year on 3rd august , a sinhala programme which is popular among youth up to now – ‘Yauwana Samajaya’ was started.It is a brain-child of Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra.Another popular character of Radio Ceylon, Mr.H.D.Wijedasa joined as an announcer on 8th September 1951. A comedy programme originated by him – ‘Vhilu Thahalu’ is still in lime-light. Same year on 19th September Mr. P.Welikala was appointed and later he became a well known Radio drama producer.He was in charged of the BBC ‘Sandeseya’ from1955-1957 .
H.M.Gunaskera
Another “sandeseya’ producer Mr.H.M.Gunasekera joined Radio Ceylon on15th October 1951.He was a well established announcer , commentaor and a news reader and appointed as Director Sinhala service in 1972. Later he became Deputy Director-General of progammes at rupavahini corporation.
A commentary on a major event was broadcast live , on 29th february 1952 from Indpendence Square.It was on the funeral of the first Prime Minister of Ceylon , the late Hon.D.S.Senanayakka.
On the 17th September 1952 Radio celebrated it’s 1st anniversary of school broadcasting service.
The sinhala orchestra of Radio Ceylon was formed in 1952.The orchestra was headed by Mr.Edwin Samaradivakara.On 19th December 1952 Mr. M.J.Perera (CCS ) took office as the first Ceylonese Director General of broadcasting.A major hall mark in the history of radio drama was , the drama series ‘Kurulubedda’ written by Mr. P.K.D.Seneviratne.It’s 1st episode was aired on 4th January 1953.It’s final episode(218) was on the air on 30th march 1957. Another distinguished effort marks the date April 1953 when a new magazine was published called ‘Tharangani’ to feature programmes broadcast over the Sinhala National Service.The N.E.Weerasuriya commission on broadcasting was appointed to inquire into various aspects of radio on 4th April 1953. It’s report was submitted to the government on28th April 1955. Another remarkable day was 8th April 1953 because on that day radio started to
transmit it’s four services ( sinhala , tamil , english , commercial) simultaniously on 4 transmitters .
Mrs.Indrani Herath Gunaratne who became the director of the Education Service in 1980 joined Radio Ceylon On 16th March 1955.The eclipse of the sun in 1955 was a memorable event on which radio aired a live commentary from Hingurakkgoda on 29th june 1955.The participants of the commentary were Dr.E.W.Adikaram and Mr.H.M.Gunasekera.In the history of commentaries , an another historical live commentary went over the air waves on 24th March 1956 on a VHF transmitting link from the summit of Sri pada.Commentator was Mr.Ananda Sarath Wimalaweera ,one of the veteran announcers of Radio Ceylon.”Manohari’ was the very first radio opera (Guvan viduli geetha natakaya) to broadcast on Radio Ceylon and it was written by Mr.Sri Chandraratna Manawasinha , the well known poet and lyricist.
In the year of 1956 on the day of 23rd May a new10Kwt. transmitter for the benefit of the sinhala service was installed at Ekala. The listener research is a must in broadcasting thus a listener research unit was formed and an officer (LRO) Mr.P.W.S.Perera (Soma) was appointewd on2nd July 1956.Mr. Wijithananda Menikdiwela who was very popular among the listeners of religious programmes was appointed as religious programme – assistant on 1st August 1956. After Mr.M.J.Perera relinquished his duties as DG , Mr.C.J.Serasinghe (CCS) was appointed as Director General on 15thOctober 1956.
C.J.Serasinghe
Mrs.Pearl Ondaatje assumed duties as english programme organizer of English service on 6th April 1957. Mr.Tilak Gunaratne CCS was appointed as acting DG on 6th June 1958 and confirmed in his post 0n 1st November 1958. The next year 1959 on1st April Mr.S.B.Senanayake CCS was appointed as acting DG and assumed duties as DG on 3rd August 1962 . The leader of the sinhala orchestra Mr.Edwin Samaradiwakara died in October 1959.Mr.W.D.Amaradeva was appointed in his place. Another Ceylon Civil service member Mr. Ronnie de Mel was appointed as Director General on 25th November1960. Mr.GerryJayasuriya was appointed as Assistant Director -Commercial Service in December 1961. Mr.Vincent Panditha CCS became Assistant Director General on 1st September 1962 and appointed as DG on 14th May 1965. Mr.K.H.J.Wijedasa CCS was appointed as the National Service Director on 8thSeptember 1962. Mr.D.M.Colombage who was the first sinhala announcer to be appointed to Ceylon Radio assumed duties of Acting Organizer -sinhala srvice on 1st March 1963. The longest radio drama series ‘Muwanpelessa’ which is still in progress was started on 12th March 1964.The first writer of the drama was Mr.Mudalinayaka Somaratna.On 17th february1965 Mr.Nissanka Wijeratne CCS was appointed as DG. On 31st July1965 the government appointed the Hullugalle Commission to inquire into radio broadcasting in Ceylon and it’s report was handed over on 15th April 1966.One of the main recommendation was to establish a corporation.Thus the corporation came into effect on 5th January 1967. It was ‘Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation’ Mr.Neville Jayaweera was the first Chairman andDirector General of the corporation..
[ The opening of the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation -CBC – by the Prime Minister Mr. Dudley Senanayaka (left). also in the picture , Mr.R.Premadasa (center), Mr.Neville Jayaweera (extreme right) ]
Under the new corporation a training institute was established in January 1968 headed by Mr.Stuart Wavell from BBC. Few years later in 1971 Commercial and Nationa services were renamed as channel one and channel two , respectively with a proposal by the then Chairman Mr.Susil Munasinghe.On 18th May 1973 Mr.Ridgeway Tillekeratne was appointed as Secretary to the ministry of Information and Broadcasting.In addition to this post , on 1st September 1973 , he was appointed as the Chairman and Director General too. Rather unusual appointment was made by the Chairman with recruiting Miss.H.P. Bisso Menike , a blind graduate to read the News in Brief bulletin daily.She made history in the broadcasting field. That was in 1975. In the same year on July 1st , the studio 6 was renamed – Munidasa Kumaratunga Studio.
Remarkable changes could be seen at SLBC after the general elections 1977.Mr.Thevis Guruge was appointed as the Deputy Director General and later became DG. Mr.M.D.D.Pieris took over as the Chairman. The sport division started in October1978 under the leadership of Mr.Carlton Seneviratne , a well known journalist.In 1979 Mrs. Prabha Ranatunga , the very first lady announcer was promoted to the post of Assistant Durector.The first regional station of SLBC was inaugurated on 12th April 1979.It was ‘Rajarata Sevaya’ at Anuradhapura. After ‘Rajarata’ two other Regional Stations were also opened. They are ‘Mahanuwara’ and ‘Ruhuna’. Regional Stations were the brain child of the then Chairman Mr. Eaman Kariyakarawana.
Eaman Kariyakarawana
A new era of electronic media in Sri Lanka was dawn on 14th April 1979 with the introduction of Television – Independent Television Network- ITN ).
‘Ruhunu Sevaya’ at Matara was established on 22nd January 1980.The death of Mr. Ridgeway Tillekeratne DG from 1973 – 1977. Experimenting on FM transmission in Sri Lanka , a new FM Stereo Service ( Studio STX ) commenced in September 1981. Mahaveli community radio started a month later in October. On 1st April 1982 Mr. Nandana Karunanayaka assumed duties as Director Research. The 3rd regional station Mahanuwara Sevaya commenced on 13th April 1983.The death occured of Mr.Karunaratne Abeysekara on 20thApril 1983. Mr. T.G. Gunaskera-SLAS – assumed duties as DG on 1st June1983.Mr. Livy Wijemaane was appointed as Chairman on 1st February 1984.Mr.Karunaratna Weeraman was appointed as DG on 12th June 1985.
K.Weeraman
Mr.Swarna sri Bandara the veteran broadcaster and acting Director Rajarata Sevaya died on 9th December1986. The death occured of the veteranbroadcaster Mr. D. M. Colombage on 23rd Nov 1987 .TheAudience Research Director Mr.Nandana Karunanayakke was made DG on 13th March 1989. Mr. Hudson Samarasinghe was appointed Additional Directo General on the same day.Mr. Samarasinghe is now the present Chairman of SLBC. Mr. Ealian de Silva was appointed as Chairman in 1989 , tendered his resignation on 18th May1989.Mr. Thevis Guruge was appointed DG and Chairman on 19th May 1989. The inauguaration of City FM Service was on3rd November 1989. Mr Tilaka Sudharman de Silva who joined Radio Ceylon in 1953 and retired in 1987 , died on 17th November 1989. During his career he underwent a training at BBC and presented ‘sandesaya’.
Sudharman de Silva
Mr.Hudson Samarasinghe was appointed DG and Chaiman on12th December 1989.
Mr. E.S.T.Fernando died on 30th April 1990.He joined Radio Ceylon as a News Sub Editor and later promoted to Director News.Prior to his retirement he held the post of DDG (Regional Services and news. (The diary of events in the brief history of Radio Ceylon / SLBC from 1924 – 1990 ENDS.)
Article Writer: Asoka Tillekeratne