|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 17 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Lakhanda in its eighth resonant year by Nadira Gunatilleke
An interview with the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Television Network (ITN) and Lakhanda Radio, Newton Gunaratna, to mark the eighth anniversary of Lakhanda Radio. Question: What is Lakhanda? Answer: Lakhanda is the first and only State radio channel inaugurated under the instructions of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga during her ten-year period of regime. Question: What was the main intention of establishing Lakhanda? Answer: Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has a 70-year history and it enjoyed a monopoly of radio for about 68 years. Then Sirasa radio came into the scene. Gradually the listeners got attracted to this new private radio station which mainly catered for the younger generation. It introduced new trends. The SLBC ignored the rapid social changes and stuck to its traditional style. It continued with its traditional program formula and was confined to it. Another significant reason for starting 'Lakhanda' was the politicisation done to the SLBC during UNP's 17- year regime. The listeners were fed up with the one and only State radio station in the country which broadcast President Premadasa's speeches all the time. The opposition was not given a chance to express its point of view. Due to those reasons President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga wanted to change the country's media culture. But even when the media personnel were given the due freedom they could not switch into the new independent system and they confined themselves to the old tradition. They were psychologically trapped in the enslaved system. There were no ethics in the media culture introduced by the private radio stations and listeners got attracted to them just because of the young and energetic announcers introduced by them and their informal announcing style. Those radio channels did not broadcast high quality programs. Those channels did not care about ethics. "President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga wanted to win back the listeners who deserted the State radio. Then she authorised me to start Lakhanda and I carried out its operations since then. I had 31 years experience in radio broadcasting at that time and worked under a number of Governments and managements. I knew what went wrong in the SLBC and started Lakhanda with handful of hand picked broadcasters. It was less than ten broadcasters who inaugurated Lakhanda. Some of them came before a microphone for the first time in their life. We gave them a three-month intensive training. Gradually they obtained necessary educational and professional qualifications such as Diplomas and Degrees in Mass Communication from State universities. Question: Explain the distinctive features of Lakhanda.
Answer: My prime objective was maintaining credibility. Without credibility no one can survive. We opened our doors to the views of the opposition. Listener winning mix music formula was introduced and short messages in capsule form were broadcast in between songs. Lakhanda radio introduced the two way communication for the first time with the help of telephone facilities. Lakhanda was the first radio station to broadcast important events such as bomb explosions, political and cultural events etc. 'Helidarawwa' (morning talk show) always selected the topics that were not favourable to the Government and the topics that were touched by no one. Government ministers were given an opportunity to defend themselves. From the very inception Lakhanda selected high quality songs and never played third grade songs. Because of the freedom we enjoyed we offered listeners something useful and entertaining. Question: Was there a setback in the radio channel? Answer: Lakhanda earned its expenditure from sponsors, commercials and spots. Lakhanda always formulated the format for commercials and was never dominated by advertisers. Within five months of its inception Lakhanda had to face obstacles not caused from the outside but from its parent organisation. Lakhanda was reestablished under Independent Television Network (ITN) management on 1st April, 1997. At that time Lakhanda had savings up to Rs. 14 million and all those funds had to be handed over to the SLBC. Lakhanda re-started under ITN management without having a cent in its account. During the period of late 1997 and late 2001 Lakhanda had Rs. 34 million profits in its fixed deposits. After the Government changed, Lakhanda ran at a loss every month. The total loss was Rs. 17 million. There were several outstanding bills. Lakhanda faced those difficulties due to mis-management of the previous regime. Lakhanda has started to earn profits again, it is around Rs. 5 million. At the end of the year 2000 President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga granted Rs.75 million to Lakhanda and we built a new digital studio complex and powerful islandwide FM transmission network. We are the only radio channel which broadcast over one islandwide frequency. Listeners can listen to Lakhanda over 88.5 and they do not need to change the frequency when they travel down South, North or to the North Central Province. Question: What can listeners expect from Lakhanda in the future? Answer: Lakhanda celebrated its previous anniversaries in very meaningful ways. Lakhanda donated relief items to 100 war stricken families at Mahavilachchiya in Vanni to mark its first anniversary. Then Lakhanda celebrated its second anniversary by setting up a library with 10,000 books in Vanni Army headquarters. Lakhanda donated a High Deficiency Unit to the Neuro Surgical Ward of the Colombo National Hospital to mark its fourth anniversary. Lakhanda will celebrate its eighth anniversary by felicitating 30 living artistes who had made a great contribution towards the music industry of this country through patriotic songs. Our's is the only country apart from India that possesses several patriotic songs. The ceremony will take place under the patronage of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on November 18 at the President's House. Prominent late musicians and lyricists, such as, late Sunil Shantha, Mahagamasekara, Karunaratne Abesekara, Ananda Samarakoon and Rukmani Devi will also be felicitated at the same time. Families of those artistes will be invited to accept the plaques and awards during the ceremony. "We will never depend on Government funds but we will not be commercialized like other radio channels. We will continue to cater to our listeners in the same manner in future with more and more quality programs". |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
