{"id":72695,"date":"2017-12-13T23:18:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T05:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=72695"},"modified":"2017-12-13T06:02:02","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T13:02:02","slug":"commencement-of-broadcasting-in-sri-lanka-it-was-on-16th-december-1925-93-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2017\/12\/13\/commencement-of-broadcasting-in-sri-lanka-it-was-on-16th-december-1925-93-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"COMMENCEMENT OF BROADCASTING IN SRI LANKA\u00a0IT WAS ON 16TH DECEMBER 1925. 93 YEARS AGO."},"content":{"rendered":"

By- Dr.Sripali Vaiamon.Vice President SRI LANKA VETERAN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION.<\/em> <\/span><\/h2>\n

CONTRIBUTING AN ARTICLE TO THE 75TH<\/sup> ANNIVERSARY COPY OF BROADCASTING IN SRI LANKA BY THE LATE MR.H.M.GUNASEKARA,THE PRESIDENT OF The VETERAN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION IN SRI LANKA,CATAGORICALLY SAID,\u00a0 BRITAIN INAUGRATED REGULAR BROADCASTING SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 1922,-ON THE SAME YEAR THE CEYLON WIRELESS CLUB WAS FORMED BY A FEW OF\u00a0 OUR RADIO ENTHUSISASTS IN CEYLON…<\/p>\n

In 1923, The Ceylon Telegraph department commenced experiments in broadcasting with a small transmitter built from parts recovered from a captured German submarine and some spares belonging to the Colombo ship-to-shore telegraphy transmitter The team was headed by Mr.Edward Harper ,the Chief Engineer of the Colombo Telegraph who came to island in 1921. Music was put over to the transmitter by placing a microphone in front of an ordinary gramophone with a horn on experimental basis.\u00a0 The studio amplifier and transmitter were all housed in one small room in the central telegraph building.<\/p>\n

Mr.T.Jaimon, News Editor, Radio Ceylon, contributing an article to the SRI LANKA\u201d of the dept. of Information, published on 15th<\/sup> October 1952,referred to the inaugural broadcast thus:(Heard by some one.)\u00a0 I was one of an eager crowed that awaited in tense anticipation for the Governor\u2019s words to come through, and come they did, but in such volume and tone that most of the speech was unintelligible. The effect was not dissimilar to the first moving picture, in which people were seeing jerkily articulating their limbs. The speaker if I remember right was Sir Hugh Clifford who did not have what we would today describe as a good microphone voice, which probably partly accounted for the poor reception. However, everybody was satisfied that broadcasting had arrived in Ceylon and a new era had begun.<\/p>\n

Mr.Jaimon comments in his article that the progress of broadcasting was slow because it was long remained an incidental responsibility of the telegraph Dept. and those in authority were not alive to the value of the new medium of public address and entertainment that had been evolved. To mention a single significant fact, it was not until 1930 that a separate transmitter was built for broadcasting. (This I extracted to note how the progress had been taken place in comparison to today\u2019s standard.)<\/p>\n

As the Vice President of the Association when I came out with\u00a0 this article there was a bit of a controversy with regard to the commencement of official opening of broadcasting in Ceylon and I quoted our PATRON Livy Wijemanna who responded to a query raised by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State ,where he had quoted Vaithianathan Commission Report which was the first review of broadcasting in this country issued in 1941, where it states quite categorically that DECEMBER 16TH<\/sup> 1925, ON WHICH DATE THIS SERVICE WAS INAUGURATED, MARKED THE BIRTHDAY OF BROADCASTING IN CEYLON.-a very early date in the history of broadcasting in the WORLD.<\/p>\n

The News, weather reports, road reports and share prices were b\/c in addition to music programmes from the inception. Most of these details I have quoted in my booklet, Land Marks of Broadcasting in Sri Lanka which I issued when I was the Director Audience Research.<\/p>\n

A copy of it I appended to the end of 75th<\/sup> year Anniversary issue for easy reference. Perhaps if you are interested you would be able to obtain a free copy of the booklet if it is available at the Station.<\/p>\n

However, a remarkable progress of development of Broadcasting in the country had been visible after the appointment of Superintendent of broadcasting, Shirly da Silva in 1937.\u00a0 In 1942 the premises in Torrington had been moved to BOWER, COTTA ROAD, BORELLA. The Dept of Broadcasting came into being on 1st<\/sup> of October 1949 and named RADIO CEYLON. The first DIRECTOR GENERAL WAS MR.JOHN N .LAMPSON AND AFTER HIM THE CEYLONESE DIRECTOR GENERAL WAS MR.M.J.PERERA.A well recognized Civil Servant.<\/p>\n

However I like to quote Professor K.N.O.Dhrmadasa writing a FOREWORD to one of my books published in America on 02\/05\/2012 PRE-HISTORIC LANKA TO END OF TERRORISM,(A book on Sociology ). ,where he had briefed the standard that were prevailing at the time that I associated.\u2014SRIPALI VAIAMON was several years ago, a very well known figure in Sri Lanka media scene. He served with distinction the then Radio Ceylon, whose name was later changed into Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He joined the institution early in the 1950\u2019s. It was a government institution and all the rules and regulations pertaining to government service were operant there. In some of the chapters in this book he gives us a glimpse of the trails and tribulations a government servant serving a media institution (one and only such in the country at the time) had to undergo. What is more significant is the fact that, as will appear in his narration, Whether it was music, dramas ,discussions or special features, great care was taken to present to listeners the best in quality. This fact has to be mentioned today, some sixty years hence when we hear from all quarters the fall of standards, in aesthetic quality, in taste as well as in language\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

It must have been the position in several years back and now I presume the standard must have been rejuvenated and uplifted with the assumptions of several educated experts who are aware with art and technique.<\/p>\n

Now let us continue the broadcastingwise historical aspects little further without getting into minor details.<\/p>\n

IN 1927-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Broadcast of News and Sport News<\/p>\n

The first production of drama (English) Wireless Drama\u201d by J.S.M.Paterson<\/p>\n

Live b\/c of Sinhala Music by M.G .Perera\u00a0 &party<\/p>\n

21.04. 1928\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Sinhala Talk by Rev.Palane Sri Vajiragnana<\/p>\n

May 1931\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Commencement of Education Broadcast by the Dept: of Education<\/p>\n

1935\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Broadcast of Race Commentaries<\/p>\n

1936\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sinhala Childrens\u2019 Programme-Presented by Catherine Hapugoda<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup> Aug. 1937\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Appointment of Superintendent of Broadcasting Mr.Shirley da Silva<\/p>\n

1938\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Under an agreement with Reuter, the Station obtained the right to b\/cNews<\/p>\n

Bulletins \u00a0twice daily<\/p>\n

Relayed Kandy Perahera with studio sound effects<\/p>\n

1939\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 News b\/c relayed four times daily<\/p>\n

Formation of a Sinhala Orchestra-Leader,H.Don Vincent<\/p>\n

23rd<\/sup> Nov.\u00a0 [sv1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 special b\/c from Anuradhapura pinnacle laying ceremony ofRuwanveli Seya<\/p>\n

1942 3rd<\/sup> Sept.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The premises in Torrington Square were commandeered for the Armed Services<\/p>\n

And Studios and Control Room were moved to the -BOWER-Cotta Road, Borella<\/p>\n

1948\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Relays of\u00a0 Easter race meeting from Nuwara Eliya and\u00a0 Ceylon tennis Champion<\/p>\n

Ship\u00a0 for the first time.<\/p>\n

Coverage of the ceremonies connected with the Independence celebrations & the<\/p>\n

Visit of Duke of Gloucester<\/p>\n

1949\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prof.Ratnajankar of Bhathkande University conducted an Audition for Sinhala<\/p>\n

vocalists<\/p>\n

Radio Seac was taken over for Radio Ceylon<\/p>\n

Namo Namo\u00a0 Matha was selected as the National Anthem and played at 11.00 am<\/p>\n

On 4th<\/sup> of February<\/p>\n

1950 . 30th<\/sup> Sept.\u00a0 Inauguration of the Commercial Service by Clifford R.Dodd<\/p>\n

Special progs. Were b\/c to commemorate SILVER JUBILEE OF Radio Ceylon on 16.12.50<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

31st<\/sup> March 1951\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First b\/c of the SHOW OF THE MONTH\u00a0 from 8-00 to 9-00 pm<\/p>\n

Sept.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inauguration of the School Service as a separate service of RADIO CEYLON<\/p>\n

1953 \u2013 April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 THARANGANI was issued<\/p>\n

1956\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A listener Research Unit was formed<\/p>\n

1959 Oct\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 News Division became under Director General<\/p>\n

1962\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction of FM to Sri Lanka<\/p>\n

1967\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Radio Ceylon became a Corporation<\/p>\n

5t June\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 School Service became Education Service<\/p>\n

1969 20th<\/sup> July\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Simultaneous coverage of the moon landing\u00a0 over all services<\/p>\n

1970\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Radio Ceylon Training School was established-Director Stewart Wavell of BBC<\/p>\n

1972\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation re-named Sri Lanka<\/p>\n

Broadcasting Corporation-SLBC<\/p>\n

1978-2nd<\/sup> Oct-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inauguration of Sports Service -Channel 3<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup> N0v.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opening of the Middle East and East Africa Services<\/p>\n

1979-12th<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opening of RAJA RATA SEVAYA-ANURADHAPURA<\/p>\n

14th<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Introduction of TELIVISION to SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

1980 3rd<\/sup> Feb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opening of RUHUNU SEVAYA-MATARA<\/p>\n

1981 March\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inauguration of mahaveli Community Radio<\/p>\n

1983 13th<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opening of MAHANUWARA SEVAYA-KANDY<\/p>\n

1985\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Commentaries on the Commissioning of VICTORIA DAM<\/p>\n

1986 11th<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inauguration of Community\u00a0 Broadcasting -GIRANDURUKOTTE<\/p>\n

1989 12th<\/sup> Feb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inauguration of Community Broadcasting- Kothmale<\/p>\n

189 3rd<\/sup> Nov.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CITY-FM\u00a0\u00a0 Service was inaugurated<\/p>\n

1993\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NEW STUDIO COMPLEX<\/p>\n

1997 17TH<\/sup> July\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First stage of Island-wide\u00a0 FM\u00a0 -from KARAGAHATENNA<\/p>\n

1998 12TH<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PULATHISIRAVAYA- Opened up at ARALAGANVILA-POLONNARUWA<\/p>\n

1999 30th<\/sup> April\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Community Broadcasting Network project-KOTMALE<\/p>\n

( Balance up to date will be published by somebody at the STATION )<\/p>\n

INAUGUARATION OF COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING IN SRI LANKA<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

By late Mr. Livy Wijemanna-,Director of Commercial Broadcasting-Chairman-Patron\u00a0Adaptation by Dr.Sripali Vaiamon-Vice President of the Sri Lanka Veteran Broadcasters Association<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

THE VETERAN BROADCASTERS IN SRI LANKA FORMED AN ASSOCIATION SOMETIMES BACK AND RELEASED A COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE on 16th of December\u00a0 2000 WHERE the Patron of the Association, late Mr. LIVY WIJEMANNA CONTRIBUTED AN ARTICLE ELABORATING THE COMMENCEMENT OF COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING\u00a0 IN SRI LANKA.WAR OFFICE IN BRITAIN INVOLVED FOR THIS FROM THE VERY INCEPTION. WAR OFFICE IN BRITAIN.IN 1941 PURCHASED OUTRIGHT A 78 ACRE ESTATE AT EKALA, J a-ela , CLOSER TO COLOMBO FOR THE ERACTION OF A TRANSMITTING STATION FOR…\u00a0-Full Story-<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(LankaWeb – 07\/12\/17)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By- Dr.Sripali Vaiamon.Vice President SRI LANKA VETERAN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION. CONTRIBUTING AN ARTICLE TO THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY COPY OF BROADCASTING IN SRI LANKA BY THE LATE MR.H.M.GUNASEKARA,THE PRESIDENT OF The VETERAN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION IN SRI LANKA,CATAGORICALLY SAID,\u00a0 BRITAIN INAUGRATED REGULAR BROADCASTING SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 1922,-ON THE SAME YEAR THE CEYLON WIRELESS CLUB WAS FORMED BY A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forum"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72695\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}