SLBC nets Rs. 101.6 m income in six months

by L.S.A. Wedaarachchi

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), the national radio station in Sri Lanka has entered a new era earning remarkable popularity for its programs during the last few months, specially for the programs broadcast by its national Sinhala service.

The morning programs including 'News', 'Subarathi' and the religious programs commencing from 5 am have achieved the highest ratings according to the listenership surveys done by market research organisations.

SLBC chairman Sunil Sarath Perera said that the high demand for commercials and sponsorships for special events shows the positive change and the improvement of listenership of this radio station.

He said a great responsibility devolves upon SLBC since it is a public service radio station run by the Government. The NHK in Japan, BBC in UK and All India Radio in India are national radio stations.

These radio stations operate adhering to the public service broadcasting concept and not with an eye on monetary gains. The listeners in those countries obtain licences to tune into the national services as they respect and enjoy those services. Until the shortsighted decision to do away with radio licences in Sri Lanka, Radio Ceylon and its successor SLBC, did not ignore the great concept of public service broadcasting, he said.

Hoping for a better change, in accordance with this concept, he has done a few structural changes and introduced some new programs specially for the National Sinhala Service, after he assumed duties as chairman. The Vidula Radio channel for children which commenced last March has become very popular. As stated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inaugural ceremony of Vidula it was a dream of his to offer many benefits for children.

At present, financially the SLBC shows a promising future. The Gross Domestic Income (GDI) growth rate this year for the last six months from January to June is 43 per cent whereas it was 13 per cent in 2005.

The SLBC recorded a total income of Rs. 101.6 million during the last six months compared to

Rs. 71 million during the corresponding period last year. According to the chairman after he assumed duties one of the letters he received was an unpaid electricity bill of Rs. 19 million and the red notice to discontinue electricity for the station. The urgent repairs at the Ekala transmitting station were also not attended to in the last few years and it was heading for a major breakdown.

"The main sources of income for the SLBC are BBC, NHK and Radio Deutchwelle the programs of which are beamed abroad via the Ekala transmitting station. With all the financial constraints, a valve worth Rs. 30 million which was to be replaced long ago was imported soon after he assumed duties. That enabled to halt the collapse of the service, he said.

The one hundred and sixty-acre plot of land belonging to the SLBC was also in danger of being handed over to a private sector entrepreneur for a BOI project. That was brought to the attention of the President.

According to the chairman he was able to safeguard the SLBC land from a 'mysterious business deal'. An international sports complex is now under construction. The SLBC resources are enormous.

The most resourceful records and tapes libraries where Hindi, Tamil, and Sinhala songs have been stored during the last five decades, are beyond comparison.

The medium wave radio channel which was launched recently targetting South Indian listeners and the All Asia Hindi service are now broadcasting old Hindi and Tamil songs. These services are becoming increasingly popular among Indian listeners. It is proved by the number of telephone calls received while the programs are aired, the chairman said.

Sunil Sarath Perera, a respected Ex-secretary of the administrative service and veteran environmentalist and lyric writer has drawn up future plans for the SLBC. he has increased the salaries of SLBC employees twice and he is confident that he can usher in a bright future for the government's oldest broadcasting station.