BBC World Service can now be heard in English on FM right across Sri
Lanka following the signing of a new agreement with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting
Corporation (SLBC).
Starting Wednesday 1 September SLBC will broadcast BBC programmes in
English on seven of its national FM stations in Colombo, Yatiyantota,
Karagahatenna, Haputale, Deniyaye, Radella and Hunnasgiriya.
Michel Lobelle, BBC Business Development Manager, Asia and Pacific
said: "Sri Lanka is a key market for the BBC World Service and
listeners can now enjoy programmes in perfect sound quality across the
country.
"This new agreement is a crucial step in consolidating our already
good relationship, and we look forward to further collaborations in
the future."
Hudson Samarasinghe, Chairman of SLBC, said: "This new venture
is truly a historic opportunity in the long tradition of cooperation
between the two organisations and SLBC is proud to be associated with
the world's leading international radio broadcaster.
"We look forward to building more bridges in the future, notably
in the areas of co-production, exchanges, and training.
"The BBC and SLBC are two old friends, and we will work together
for many years to come."
BBC World Service programmes in English will now be broadcast daily
on seven of SLBC's national FM station across Sri Lanka from 07.30 to
09.30, 12.00 to 13.00 and 17.00 to 18.00 local time.
The FM stations are 95.6 FM in Colombo, 96.4 FM in Yatiyantota, 99.6
FM in Karagahatenna, 98.4 FM in Haputale, 90.8 FM in Deniyaye, 100.2
FM in Radella and 96.4 FM in Hunnasgiriya.
BBC Sinhala and BBC Tamil Service programmes are already available
on SLBC.
The BBC is also available on short wave across Sri Lanka.
Notes to Editors
BBC Sandesaya (Sinhala) service's daily programme of global and regional
news and current affairs can be heard on short wave at 31 and 49 metres
at 21.15 Sri Lankan time.
For text and audio in Sinhala go to bbcsinhala.com.
BBC Tamilosai (Tamil) service's regular evening programme can be heard
on 31, 41 and 49 metres on short wave at 21.15 IST and 21.45 Sri Lankan
time.
For news and current affairs in Tamil, in text and audio, go to bbctamil.com.
BBC World Service broadcasts programmes around the world in 43 languages
and is available on radio and online.
It has a global audience of 146 million listeners.
It is available globally on short wave; on FM in more than 139 capital
cities; and selected programmes are carried on around 2,000 FM and MW
radio stations around the world.
The BBC World Service websites receive around 280 million page impressions
every month.
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