Explore vintage broadcasts, music archives and timeless stories in SLBC (formerly Radio Ceylon) – the guided tour of the station is free but pre-booking is required
Ever wondered how Elvis Presley – and the rest of rock ‘n’ roll – made it to living rooms and dance halls in Colombo and across India, halfway across the world? Then head over to Cinnamon Gardens, an affluent neighbourhood of embassies and government buildings in the Sri Lankan capital, and peek into the hallowed halls of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), previously called Radio Ceylon.
Entering Asia’s oldest radio station, located within Colombo’s Independence Square (formerly Torrington Square), is like walking into a time capsule. The spacious corridors are lined with mostly black and white photographs that take visitors through iconic moments in history and the country’s socio-political milestones, many from when the station was called Radio Ceylon.
Think of the Apollo 11 moon landing broadcast in 1969, and Queen Elizabeth II’s address to the public from the radio station in 1954. There are photos of Professor Maulvi H Salahudeen, who presented a radio programme on Islam for the first time in Sinhalese, and veteran broadcaster Vijaya Corea, a household name in Sri Lanka, who introduced Elvis to this side of the world.
The photo gallery leads to another corridor displaying antiquated equipment like microphones, recording tools, consoles and a disc-cutting lathe. There’s even a grandfather clock that harks back to 1925, when the station was established.
Take in their five music libraries, including one with hundreds of gramophone records. The station is equipped with enough music for 55,000 hours (over six years) of nonstop airplay. But there’s more to the tour than looking at relics from a bygone era.
Visitors may also opt to sit inside the studio during broadcast sessions and linger for a chat with the veteran presenters (80-year-old Somasiri Chandrasena, who has worked at the station for 50 years, will have some fantastic stories to share).
SLBC, which turns 100 this year, continues to be a trusted source for news, discussions on current affairs, radio drama, entertainment, women-centric content and programmes that focus on intangible heritage. The guided tour of the station is free, but pre-booking is required. It’s open from Monday to Friday, and office hours are from 8.30am to 4.15pm.
