TV Sri Lanka comes home

by E. Weerapperuma

Sri Lanka will be brought closer to the universal family with the launching of the Television Sri Lanka Network via the TV Sri Satellite Television digital channel.

Addressing the ceremony to introduce TV Sri Lanka, held at the Holiday Inn, Colombo, Director/Programmes Rohan Welivita said that the TV Sri Lanka was currently covering 124 countries including European Continent and the Middle East. He said with its launching, it would enable the coverage of the Asian and Australian continents and Sri Lankans living in those countries would be able to have a closer look at what was happening in their motherland.

He said that the decision was reached to launch the new channel at a time when the country was moving towards electing a new President and millions of Sri Lankans living overseas were eager to know the happenings in their country. He told the audience that Thushara Fernando handles the International marketing and Ms. Madhumali Kurera handles marketing in the Asian region and Australia.

According to him Sunil Wickramaarchchi, Kapila Nissanka,Thushara Fernando and his Fine Vision business enterprise has invested around Euro eight million towards the project.

Responding to a question Welivita said that people in Sri Lanka would be able to watch this channel using a devise that would be available at an affordable price, what is being telecast via satellite to the international audience. Our main target is Sri Lankans working and residing abroad. The device that would enable one to watch the programme consist of satellite receives and dish.

He added that within a very short time the organisation would make the devices available for outright purchase or on a monthly rental scheme.

Welivita invited the local businessmen/business women, entrepreneurs, food and brewery items locally producing enterprises, rest-houses, hotels and service providers, apartment builders to market their product and services via TV Sri Lanka, that would reach the doorsteps of foreign businessmen and business with their Sri Lankan counterparts. Our channel is free of charge to purchasers of the device and they will be able to view over 200 other channels around the world.

"I am a media person. My forte has been print,electronic and radio and I earnestly request our artistes, producers of various programs to entertain and provide vital information about Sri Lanka to enhance the knowledge of Sri Lankans in abroad and being be a real friend via TV Sri Lanka.

He also said that Satellite facilities are very common in countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai and other countries in the West and pointed out that with Sri Lanka being a favourite tourist destination much hope could be placed in canvassing and attracting more tourists to the country by using the TV Sri Lanka channel which would carry advertisements at competitive rates thus bringing more benefits to the clientele.

Veteran media personality Edwin Ariyadasa said that though Sri Lanka is yet to have satellite facilities, we could be proud of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the world famous scientist who predicted the satellite age deciding to make Sri Lanka his home.

Ariyadasa spoke about the multiple use and benefits of satellites and explained how it helps enhance one's knowledge, bring the world closer to one's doorstep and how it helps us become members of the global family.

The TV Sri Lanka channel operates from an apartment in Rome and a local office will come up at D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha shortly.