Radio Ceylon, currently known as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, marks its 100-year anniversary today. Radio Ceylon was founded on Dec 16, 1925. However, the testing broadcast started on 22nd of Feb 1924, allowing programmes to be done by YMCA Colombo students. The British Broadcasting Corporation, also known as B-B-C, was founded on October 18, 1922. So Radio Ceylon was launched just after 15 months.
Radio Ceylon was the first ever radio station in all of Asia. Not Japan, not China, not India, nor any superpower. It’s the crown colony Ceylon. I don’t think that Sri Lanka ever understood or ever will how much the British Empire valued the crown colony Ceylon over many other colonies and territories. 1924 is the peak of the British Empire. And yet Ceylon was favoured with many things, including Radio Ceylon. With few exceptions, the British colonial era is being taught and viewed as so hostile by the island nation despite the reality. But Ceylon is one of the best nations that could’ve been so successful with the help of the British if they had managed to handle it with the right diplomatic attitude. Brits are misunderstood by other nations in many places and on many occasions, and Ceylon is one of the greatest.
Not only that, but Radio Ceylon can be one of the 10 oldest commercial radio stations in the world. It is a living heritage, and no one seems to notice in the island nation. Hope you catch the name when I say Sir Edmund Hillary. He was one of the first men to set foot on Everest. They have heard Radio Ceylon on the top of the world while it’s first ever conquering. Hillary is said to have reported that the signal strength from Radio Ceylon’s powerful 100-kilowatt transmitter at Ekala (13 miles from Colombo) was excellent, coming in “loud and clear.
Personally I think it is a mistake to change the name of Radio Ceylon. And I really don’t understand why Ceylon’s name feels bad. Anyway, as a media outlet, we truly admire this living heritage, and we would love to appreciate and report stories like this to mark the milestones of modern communication despite the location.
