Broadcasters celebrate Golden Jubilee

by Premasara Epasinghe

Beaming programs on radio and television can be defined as broadcasting. There are two important tools in media - print and electronic. The official opening of broadcasting in Ceylon commenced on December 16, 1925.

A group of young "Relief Announcers", started their illustrious long journey on September 1, 1963, and today they are celebrating their Golden Jubilee. I was also one of them, in that group.

Radio Ceylon

Most of them are now retired, after rendering an enormous service to the country as full time and part time broadcasters. Some joined as permanent employees of Radio Ceylon at the time. A few did not join Radio Ceylon, but presented programs on a part-time basis. Therefore, September 1, 2013 is a red letter day for those relief announcers.

On July 4, 1963 the Government Gazette published an advertisement, calling for applications for the recruitment of relief announcers.

We sat for a written test, then a voice test or microphone test. Those who were successful in the two tests, were called for the final interview. To quote the Great Charles Dickens, It was not the worst of times, but the best of times".

Transparent

The recruitment and selecting relief announcers was done in a very transparent manner, according to the rules and regulations. There were no political influence or favouritism. Two of the best civil servants of the old brigade K.H.J. Wijedasa and Vincent Panditha were responsible for conducting the entire operations. Educational qualifications, personality, pleasant delivery, individual track records, co-curricular activities and smartness were the sole criteria for the selections.

September 1 is a very significant date, not only for relief announcers but also the SLBC, as it was on this date 50 years ago that they were blessed to recruit the best 'Kohinoors' (The Richest Diamonds) in broadcasting. A few reached the pinnacle in their field. Some who did not join Radio Ceylon were blessed with high positions in Banks and other institutions.

Although I was called for the final interview, I did not receive the appointment letter on time. When I went to Radio Ceylon I met another person who was in the same predicament. He was D.S. Dayaratne who excelled in broadcasting later as a permanent employee of Radio Ceylon. Two of us met Vincent Panditha, and we were later selected.

Training

We underwent training in handling the "Beam" with seasoned, experienced announcers, translated the news bulletins from Sinhala into English and vice versa. The top hierarchy gave us an assurance that after one year, we would be absorbed into the permanent cadre. As relief announcers in 1963, our payment for a hour was Rs. 1.75. For an eight hour shift, we were paid a princely sum of Rs. 12.

I presume the most talented and outstanding in our batch was unassuming Amarabandu Rupasinghe who passed away at a comparatively young age.

The most dynamic relief announcer was undoubtedly Newton Gunaratne. In his distinguished career he went up the ladder without difficulty. When I was employed at the Bank of Ceylon I presented the reputed Aradhana Musical Program.

Then, I continued presenting some of the Magazine Programs as a freelance broadcaster. Newton Gunaratne was elevated as the Chairman of ITN and Lakhanda Radio and was appointed as Ambassador to Myanmar. He was the first electronic media personality to be appointed an Ambassador.

Another team member was the dramatist Ranjit Dharmakeerthi. He never joined Radio Ceylon as a permanent employee. He had a brilliant career at the Central Bank and worked as a freelance broadcaster. He functioned as the Chairman of the Tower Hall.

The charismatic Central School product, Bertie Galahitiyawa, friendly Nandasena Liyanapatabendi and cricket commentator Palitha Perera joined the permanent staff and served SLBC for many years. Some of the others were Sesiri Wijesekera, Malalgoda Bandutileke, Dharmasiri Munasinghe, Mervyn Senaratne, Asoka Colombage, D.M. Kolambage son of illustrious Latha de Silva.

Commentator box

I was introduced to the commentator box by the late Gunaratne Abeysekera, Mrs. Nanda Jeyamanne and Livy Wijemanne. It was Mrs. Jayamanne who introduced me to Livy Wijemanne. They were my "Gurus". It was Mrs. Nanda Jayamanne, who assigned me to present a weekly sports round-up when she was in charge of Sandya-Sewaya.

Later, I compiled and presented a weekly sports round-up every Sunday for more than two decades.

While I was selected as a relief announcer, I entered the university. I had to take a decision. I met Vincent Panditha for advice. He told me to enter university and obtain a degree.

Suggestion

In 1969, I joined Bank of Ceylon and on my suggestion they started the musical program Aradhana. The late K.D.K. Dharmawardena and after him Palitha Perera presented the program. I presented Aradhana program for more than a decade.

I started a special program in SLBC for the Middle East titled Sampath Vahini. Palitha Perera, Newton Gunaratne, Mohan Samaranayake and Punya Lokuliyana presented the program.

I did not join the permanent cadre of SLBC, but for 50 years I continued my association with SLBC in commentating cricket matches. I was fortunate to bring the first live cricket commenting in 1985 from Pakistan and had the distinction of commenting of 1996 World Cup.

Thanks to SLBC, I saw the world of cricket and except West Indies, I have toured all test playing nations in the world. It was Radio Ceylon or SLBC that nursed me throughout my career.

Hudson Samarasinghe (Present Chairman), Dalton de Alwis, Kamal D. Atukorala and Mahinda Algama gave me unstinted support as producers.