Come what may...: We are still the No.1 channel - Rupavahini DG

by Lionel Yodhasinghe

Modern technology and equipment will be added to the existing machinery system to upgrade the service of the Rupavahini Corporation. A high-powered parabolic antennae has also been set up to beam the programs to several countries in the region including parts of India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Director General, Sisira Kothalawala told the Sunday Observer.

"Very soon, the Channel Eye would beam to the Middle East for our expatriates as a satellite link-up is being set up, he said.

In a bid to serve the interests of the nation, SLRC has undertaken a project to restructure its programs. The launch of a weekly documentary on the security situation on June 1 and the morning news were a few among the host of new programs to go on the air.

Rupavahini, as it is known to thousands of Sri Lanka viewers, was initially set up on a grant from Japan to Sri Lanka to enable the country to use it mainly as an educational channel. Later it sought financial assistance to cope with its increasing maintenance and expenditure and, consequently it focused more on commercial and entertainment programs during the last 25 years since its inception in 1982.

The founder management of the SLRC and some of their successors understood the goal of the channel and thereby they strived to uphold the quality and standard of productions before the programs went on air.

This practice secured the interest of the nation. But the institution became a centre of controversy particularly during the regime of the previous UNP Government as Rupavahini was given an indigent outlook that aped certain entertaining channels of the West.

Consequent to this, the public and intellectuals accused the then management of SLRC for allowing programs which embarrassed the family members in the living room. They charged Rupavahini, as the State television, had overlooked the interests of the people by telecasting such programs deteriorating local culture, social values and age-old traditions, Kothalawala said.

As a result, the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga intervened and took over the Media Ministry and the new management under former Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera acted promptly to save the institution from further deterioration. State television has heavy competition as rival channels are mushrooming, and it had to earn more revenue to meet its expenditure, and more air time had to be reserved for commercial programs.

But the current management does not find excuses to stop valuable programs to slot the commercial. We telecast programs with national and cultural values, or others with social responsibility, considering it as our national task.

Abide by the advice given by former President the late J. R. Jayewardene during his address at the inauguration of the SLRC; we also stood to hail the truth in our programs. President Jayewardene told the gathering "The Rupavahini should be the television of the truth - Sathyavahini", Kothalawala recalled.

In spite of other television channels continuing propaganda to blow up their own image, the state television, Rupahavini is still the No.1, Kothalawala said. It is the only station with modern equipment, large studios and other infrastructure facilities. SLRC is the only local television that had digital editing cubicles, he said.

Rupavahini is the only channel that could beam throughout the country.

Rupavahini can claim many firsts in the trade. SLRC won 14 awards at the Sumathi tele awards which was organised by a private party and won 17 awards at the State tele awards ceremony recently. SLRC is the only television station with large and well equipped studios, large staff of competent technicians and personnel of other cadres.

The Lanka Market Research Bureau has rated Rupavahini as the second channel out of 20. LMRB rated its sister channel Sirasa as first. However, LMRB's rating criteria is not transparent and therefore this rating is questionable, he said.

Among its many programs are music, religion, education, sports, environment, travel, business, culture, history and entertainment, Kothalawala said. During its 25 years, Rupavahini has become a seat of learning for television personnel and many of those working for other stations have either started life or served at Rupavahini, he said.

Rupavahini has also a children's club with which counts a membership throughout the country and this club is responsible for the children's programs. This could be the world's first club of its kind.

Kothalawala who started life as an assistant film producer at the Information Department, joined SLRC as a founder producer in 1982.

Knowing the profession inside out, Kothalawala said that his main endeavour is to pool his knowledge and experience that he gathered for nearly three decades for the growth of the SLRC.

"I am humbly committed towards such effort and I hope to achieve such a goal during my tenure", Kothalawala said. Kothalawala said through the proposed development, the management expects to increase its revenue while providing a better service and assured to preserve and protect the identity of language, local culture and social values in spite of any element or pressure.