Sri Lanka's broadcasting at 100: Industry at crossroads in turbulent world

'REIMAGINING broadcasting for the digital world' is the theme of Sri Lanka Broadcasters' Symposium 2025 to be held on 25 June in Colombo.

- By Nalaka Gunawardene

This event takes place at a critical time for the country’s radio and television broadcasters, comprising 19 entities under either state or private ownership.

The local channels now compete not only with each other, but also with foreign channels and online digital content.

Some challenges faced by local broadcasters are common to the entire mass media industry. These include adapting to advancements in technologies, understanding changes in audience behaviour, and coping with unreliable revenue streams.

Broadcasters also face some issues specific to their industry. Among them are regulatory gaps that prevent a level playing field for local companies, and long delays in the country’s transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

Thus, the imperative for local broadcasters is implicit in the symposium theme: reimagine their strategies for content production and audience engagement, or face increasing irrelevance.

Century of experience

Collectively, the Lankan broadcast industry has a century of experience to draw from, although harping back to the past alone cannot ensure future survival.

Radio broadcasting in Sri Lanka goes back to 1925, when Colombo Radio commenced transmitting as the first radio station in South Asia. Initially under the colonial government’s Telegraph Department, it later evolved to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). The first television service, ITN Sri Lanka, was started in 1979 initially as a private venture but soon taken over by the State. National television Rupavahini was launched in 1982.