Sunday, September 26, 2004

Victor Goonetilleke reports: On the 22nd of September the order went from
the Director General Engineering at SLBC to Ekala SW transmitting station to
stop all Domestic SW transmissions due to the high cost of electricity. With
it a long journey of Domestic SW has come to and end. MW ceased last year.
However, the SLBC still runs its SW Service for its external services.

The SLBC has a very effective FM coverage. The terrain of the country is
tailor made for VHF and TV coverage with the highest mountain in Sri Lanka,
Mt. Pidurutalagala 8281ft (2524m) and highlands situated in the centre of
the country. The Central Highlands consists of a series of mountain peaks
which almost without exception have one or more VHF/UHF and Microvave links.

However, we are making representations to the SLBC to restore at least a
domestic service relay for Sri Lankans working in the Maldive Islands and in
neighbouring countries where Internet radio will still be prohibitive.

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