Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
Sri Lanka's national television corporation and operator of the Rupavahini, Channel Eye and Nethra TV services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, commonly known as Rupavahini or Jathika Rupavahini, is Sri Lanka's state-owned national television corporation. The Sinhala name Rupavahini can be understood as a provider or carrier of images. Established through Parliament's Act No. 6 of 1982, the corporation was created to provide a national television service rather than a purely commercial broadcaster. M. J. Perera, a senior civil servant, was its founding chairman. Sri Lanka had no regular television service before 1979, although proposals for one had circulated since the 1960s. The national service was approved during the presidency of J. R. Jayewardene, and Rupavahini was formally established on 14 February 1982. Its first transmission began on 15 February with an address by Jayewardene. Japanese government assistance supported the project, while Japanese technicians supplied and installed key transmission equipment. The original schedule began in the evening and combined children's programmes, education, news and selected entertainment. News was initially presented in Sinhala, Tamil and English, reflecting the corporation's intended national remit. Education was an important early purpose. The service developed classroom-oriented programmes and television support for schools, including initiatives connected with advanced-level science and mathematics teaching. Its programming also included locally produced drama, discussion, cultural programmes, news and sports, alongside imported material. In the 1980s and 1990s, Sinhala-dubbed cartoons such as versions of Bugs Bunny, Doctor Dolittle and Top Cat became particularly recognizable parts of its schedule. Rupavahini was also an important gateway for foreign serials, including the Japanese drama Oshin and later Korean television programming. The corporation's principal service is the Sinhala-language Rupavahini channel. Channel Eye serves as an English-language and sports-oriented service, while Nethra TV provides Tamil-language programming focused on Tamil culture, religion and entertainment. The corporation also operated NTV, an English-only channel, from 2009 until its closure in 2015 because of weak ratings. In February 2024 it launched Ru Radio as a digital radio service. Rupavahini developed a broad terrestrial transmission network using VHF and UHF frequencies, making its services available across Sri Lanka. It has also experimented with digital transmission, including DVB-T2 broadcasts from the Kokavil tower, although national digital migration plans changed over time from DVB-T2 to ISDB-T. The corporation's Colombo studio complex includes production studios, master control, dubbing and post-production facilities, editing suites and outside-broadcast vehicles. Its original equipment was substantially rehabilitated through Japanese grant projects in the late 1990s. Funding originally relied on a television licence fee. Following the abolition of that system in 1998, the corporation became dependent on government grants supplemented by advertising. This public-service and state-funded structure has made Rupavahini a central institution in Sri Lanka's media system, but also exposed it to criticism concerning political influence, management and financial sustainability. Its headquarters was disrupted during political unrest in 2022, and employees staged a walkout in 2024 over unpaid salaries and accumulated debt. Despite these pressures, Rupavahini remains an active national broadcaster with programming in Sinhala, Tamil and English and a prominent role in Sri Lankan public communication.
History
The idea of television in Sri Lanka emerged during the 1960s, but early proposals were rejected. The project returned to the political agenda after 1977, when President J. R. Jayewardene consulted Japanese and European technology suppliers. The proposed institution was conceived as a public-service broadcaster rather than a conventional commercial station. Jayewardene approved the creation of a national television service on 4 March 1980. Parliament subsequently enacted the legislation establishing Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on 23 January 1982, and the corporation was formally established on 14 February. Regular broadcasting began the following day. Japanese government assistance financed or supported major parts of the initial infrastructure, and Japanese technicians installed the transmitters. The first schedule began at 6 p.m., included a children's segment and ended at 11 p.m. News was presented in Tamil, Sinhala and English at separate times. The early broadcaster combined public information, education and entertainment. Educational programmes were developed for schools, and television sets were made available to selected institutions teaching advanced-level science and mathematics. Rupavahini also built an audience outside Sri Lanka: under suitable weather conditions its signal could be received in parts of southern India. Although transmitter power was later reduced following concerns about audience overspill and advertising, the service continued to attract Indian viewers with agricultural, children's and foreign programmes. The corporation expanded its facilities in 1986. In 1994 it reopened relays at Kokavil and Palavi, strengthening national coverage. Most original equipment was rehabilitated in 1998 through Japanese grant-funded projects that introduced digital production and post-production capabilities. Until 1998, the broadcaster was supported by a television licence fee. Parliament then ended the licence-fee model, replacing it with government grants and advertising income. Rupavahini's channel portfolio developed during the 1990s and 2000s. Rupavahini 2 launched in April 1999 and was renamed Channel Eye in August 2000. Channel Eye became associated with English-language programming, documentaries and sports, including cricket, volleyball and motor racing. It held broadcast rights for five Cricket World Cup tournaments: 1996, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. Nethra TV was introduced in 2008 as a Tamil-language service, initially sharing Channel Eye's frequencies before becoming separate in 2018. NTV, an English-language channel operated from 2009 to 2015, was closed because of low audience ratings. The corporation distributed selected productions through DVD and VCD releases under the RU Entertainments label from 2009. It also continued its role as an importer and adapter of international television, including Sinhala-dubbed Japanese and Korean dramas. The main channel was temporarily made available by satellite in Europe in 2014, although that arrangement did not continue. The broadcaster has faced repeated disputes about institutional independence, management and political intervention. In 2007, a government minister and his security personnel were involved in a physical confrontation at the premises. In July 2022, during Sri Lanka's nationwide political crisis, protesters entered the headquarters and temporarily interrupted programming. The same year, the corporation changed its logo in a way that removed the Tamil and English names; after criticism, the earlier multilingual identity was restored. In February 2024, Ru Radio launched as a digital service, while employees publicly protested over unpaid salaries and accumulated debt. Rupavahini remains active, operating television services for Sinhala-, Tamil- and English-speaking audiences while navigating analogue transmission, digital migration and financial constraints.
- 2024
Ru Radio launches
[1]The corporation added a digital radio service called Ru Radio.
- 2022
Logo controversy and headquarters disruption
[1]A revised logo removed the Tamil and English names, was later restored, and the headquarters was temporarily disrupted during nationwide protests.
- 2018
Nethra TV becomes separate
[1]Nethra TV ceased sharing Channel Eye's frequency and operated as a separate service.
- 2015
NTV closes
[1]The corporation shut down its English-only NTV service after low ratings.
- 2008
Nethra TV introduced
[1]The corporation created Nethra TV as a Tamil-language service, initially sharing Channel Eye's transmission time.
- 1999
Rupavahini 2 launches
[1]A second service, Rupavahini 2, was launched and later renamed Channel Eye.
- 1998
Equipment rehabilitation and funding change
[1]Japanese grant projects rehabilitated much of the original equipment, while the television licence-fee system was replaced by government grants and advertising.
- 1986
Facilities expanded
[1]The corporation expanded its production and transmission facilities.
- 1982
Corporation established and broadcasting begins
[1]Parliament established the corporation in January, it was formally constituted in February, and its first broadcast began on 15 February.
- 1980
National television project approved
[1]President J. R. Jayewardene approved the creation of Sri Lanka's national television service.
Products and positioning
A national public-service broadcaster combining state-supported television, multilingual programming, education, news, cultural content and sports coverage.
Sinhala-language television channel · 1982
Rupavahini
The corporation's principal national television service. It broadcasts primarily in Sinhala on a schedule of approximately 20 hours per day and carries news, teledramas, educational programmes, discussion programmes, children's content and imported programming. It is the service most closely identified with the national Rupavahini brand.
English-language and sports television channel · 1999
Channel Eye
A television service that developed from Rupavahini 2 and was renamed Channel Eye in 2000. Its programming has included English-language original productions, documentaries, international material and sports, particularly cricket, volleyball and motor racing. The service served as the corporation's broadcaster for five Cricket World Cup tournaments.
Tamil-language television channel · 2008
Nethra TV
A Tamil-language service focused on Tamil culture and customs, acquired and original serials, entertainment and religious programming. It initially shared Channel Eye's frequencies but became a separate service in February 2018.
English-language television channel · 2009
NTV
An English-only channel operated by the corporation from 2009 to 2015. It was closed on 21 February 2015 after attracting insufficient audience ratings.
Digital radio · 2024
Ru Radio
A digital radio service introduced by the corporation in February 2024, extending its publicly owned media portfolio beyond television.
Controversies
2024
Employee protest over unpaid salaries
Employees walked out over unpaid salaries and accumulated debt, highlighting continuing concerns about the corporation's financial management.
2022
Protesters interrupt broadcasting operations
During Sri Lanka's 2022 political protests, demonstrators entered the headquarters and demanded changes to the broadcast schedule. Operations were temporarily halted.
2007
Political confrontation at Rupavahini
Minister Mervyn Silva and bodyguards reportedly entered the broadcaster's premises and attacked the news director, after which employees confronted the minister.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009RU Entertainments home-video releases
Sri Lanka
Selected Rupavahini productions were made available on DVD and VCD under the RU Entertainments label.
Outcome. The initiative extended the corporation's programming distribution beyond broadcast transmission.
- 1982National educational television initiative
Sri Lanka
Rupavahini incorporated classroom-oriented educational programming into its initial public-service mission and supported selected schools with television equipment.
Outcome. Education remained one of the corporation's recurring programming functions.
Brand decisions
2024
Launch Ru RadioProduct launchBackground
The corporation was seeking to extend its public media presence while facing criticism over management and finances.
Action taken
It launched Ru Radio as a digital radio station.
Aftermath
The launch expanded the corporation's active services beyond television.
2015
Close NTVStrategyBackground
The corporation's English-only NTV service had low ratings.
Action taken
NTV was shut down on 21 February 2015.
Aftermath
English-language output remained associated primarily with Channel Eye.
2008
Launch Nethra TVProduct launchBackground
The corporation maintained a multilingual national broadcasting remit.
Action taken
It introduced Nethra TV for Tamil-language cultural, entertainment and religious programming.
Aftermath
The service initially time-shared with Channel Eye and later became separate in 2018.
1999
Launch Rupavahini 2Product launchBackground
The corporation sought to broaden its television offering beyond its main national channel.
Action taken
It launched Rupavahini 2, which was renamed Channel Eye in 2000.
Aftermath
Channel Eye became the corporation's English-language and sports-oriented service.
1998
Replace television licence-fee fundingStrategyBackground
The corporation had previously been funded through annual television licence fees.
Action taken
Following parliamentary action, the licence-fee system was abolished and government grants plus advertising became the principal funding model.
Aftermath
Rupavahini continued as a state-supported broadcaster with commercial advertising income.
Sources2 sources
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