Radio broadcasting in Sri Lanka dates to 1923. Radio broadcasting, like other forms of media in Sri Lanka, is generally divided along linguistic lines with state and private media operators providing services in Sinhala, Tamil, and English language.
History
The first radio broadcast in Ceylon was in 1923 when recorded music was broadcast using parts of radio equipment from a captured German submarine. Regular broadcasting started in Colombo in July 1924. The station was taken over by the British military during World War II who renamed the station Radio SEAC which broadcast across South Asia from October 1944. After the war the station was handed back to the civilian government of Ceylon who renamed it Radio Ceylon on 1 October 1949.
Terrestrial radio
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" mw- mw-" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|+
! Station
! Ownership
! Owner
! Language
! Established
! FM 1<br>(MHz)
! FM 2<br>(MHz)
! Internet
|-
| align="left" |Buddhist Radio || align="left" |Charity || align="left" |Sri Sambodhi Media Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 101.3 || 101.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |City FM || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 89.6 || 89.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |Mathi FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MS Broadcasting Company || align="left" |English || 25 April 2012 || 108.1 || 108.3 ||
|-
| align="left" |FM Derana || align="left" |Private || align="left" | Derana Macro Entertainment under Dilith Jayaweera || align="left" |Sinhala || 29 March 2009 || 92.2 || 92.4 ||
|-
| align="left" |Fox FM (formerly New FM, Allai) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asset Radio Broadcasting || align="left" |English || || 91.4 || ||
|-
| align="left" |GoldFM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asia Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |English || September 1998 || 93.0 || 93.2 ||
|-
| align="left" |Hiru FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asia Broadcasting Corporation|| align="left" |Sinhala || 1998 || 96.1 || 96.3 ||
|-
| align="left" |Lakhanda radio (formerly Lakhanda radio, ITN FM) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Independent Television Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 93.5 || 93.7 ||
|-
| align="left" |Kiss FM (formerly Kiss 898) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Voice of Asia Network || align="left" |English || 13 August 2009 || 96.9 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Kothmale FM / Kotmale Community Radio || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala and Tamil || || 97.6 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Lak FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Lakview Broadcasting || align="left" |Sinhala || || 106.0 || 106.2 ||
|-
| align="left" |Lakviru || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Lakviru Radio and Television Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 105.2 || 105.4 ||
|-
| align="left" |Legends FM (formerly Isura FM, Kirula FM) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MBC Networks || align="left" |English || || 96.6 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Lite FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |TNL Radio Network || align="left" |English || 27 February 1999 || 87.6 || 87.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |Neth FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asset Radio Broadcasting || align="left" |Sinhala || || 94.8 || 95.0 ||
|-
| align="left" |Pirai FM (Muslim) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Tamil || || 90.1 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Ran FM (formerly Ranone FM and Raja FM) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |EAP Broadcasting Company || align="left" |Sinhala || || 88.1 || 100.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |Rangiri Sri Lanka || align="left" |Charity || align="left" |Rangiri Sri Lanka Media Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 104.4 || 105.7 ||
|-
| align="left" |Real Radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Voice of Asia Network || align="left" |English || || 97.1 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Red FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sky Media Network || align="left" |English || || 107.8 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Rhythm FM (formerly Asura FM, Rhythm FM, Rhythm World) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |TNL Radio Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 95.6 || 95.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |Seth FM|| align="left" |Private || align="left" |Friend Media Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 103.1 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Shaa FM (formerly Tharu FM) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asia Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 90.9 || 91.1 ||
|-
| align="left" |Shakthi FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MBC Networks || align="left" |Tamil || 20 November 1998 || 103.9 || 104.1 ||
|-
| align="left" |Shree FM (formerly Savana Radio) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |EAP Broadcasting Company || align="left" |Sinhala || 1999 || 100.0 || 100.2 ||
|-
| align="left" |Sitha FM (formerly Singha FM & Youth Radio) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sky Media Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 88.6 || 88.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |Sirasa FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MBC Networks || align="left" |Sinhala || 2 March 1994 || 106.5 || 106.7 ||
|-
| align="left" |Siyatha FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Voice of Asia Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 98.2 || 98.4 ||
|-
| align="left" |Vidula || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |English, Sinhala, Tamil<br> || || 107.3 || 107.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Commercial Service (Velanda Sevaya) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 94.3 || 94.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |Thendral FM || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Tamil || || 104.7 || 104.9 ||
|-
| align="left" |Radio Sri Lanka|| align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |English || || 97.4 || 97.6 ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC National Service (Swadeshiya Sevaya) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 91.7 || 91.9 ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC National Service || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" | Tamil || || 102.1 || 102.3 ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Dabana) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 97.6 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Jaffna) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala/Tamil || || 90.1 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Kandurata Sevaya) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala/Tamil || || 107.3 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Rajarata Sevaya) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 107.3 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Ruhunu Sevaya) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 107.3 || 107.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Uva) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 107.3 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Regional Service (Wayamba Handa) || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Sinhala || || 90.1 || ||
|-
| align="left" |SLBC Sports Service || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |English, Sinhala, Tamil<br> || || 107.3 || 107.5 ||
|-
| align="left" |Sooriyan FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asia Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |Tamil || || 103.4 || 103.6 ||
|-
| align="left" |Sun FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Asia Broadcasting Corporation || align="left" |English || || 98.7 || 98.9 ||
|-
| align="left" |Supreme Radio (formerly Isira, Pearlbayradio)|| align="left" |Private || align="left" | Supreme Global Holdings|| align="left" |Sinhala || || 89.1 || 89.3 ||
|-
| align="left" |TNL Radio (formerly TNL Rocks) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |TNL Radio Network || align="left" |English || || 99.2 || 101.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |V FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Lanka Television Network || align="left" |Sinhala || || 107.0 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Vasantham FM || align="left" |State-owned || align="left" |Independent Television Network || align="left" |Tamil || || 102.6 || 102.8 ||
|-
| align="left" |Star tamil radio (formerly Varanam FM, Vettri FM) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Voice of Asia Network || align="left" |Tamil || 11 February 2008 || 90.4 || 90.6 ||
|-
| align="left" |Capital Radio (formerly Sath FM) || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sat Net || align="left" |Tamil || || 94.0 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Y FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MBC Networks || align="left" |Sinhala || 1 December 2005 || 92.7 || ||
|-
| align="left" |Yes FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MBC Networks || align="left" |English || 10 December 1993 || 100.8 || 101.0 ||
|-
| align="left" | Tamil Radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sky Media Network || align="left" | Tamil || || 99.7 || 99.5 ||
|-
|Athavan Radio
|Private
|Lyca Media
|Tamil
|October 2016
|95.3
|
|
|}
Internet radio
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" mw- mw-" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|+
! valign="bottom" |Station
! valign="bottom" |Ownership
! valign="bottom" |Owner
! valign="bottom" |Language
! valign="bottom" |Established
|-
| align="left" |My Radio 360
|align="center"|Private
|MM Media Network (Pvt) Ltd || align="left" |Tamil, Sinhala, English, Hindi || 2024
|-
| align="left" |Anurata Radio
|align="center"|Private
|Anurata Media || align="left" |Sinhala, English, Tamil, Hindi || 2024
|-
|Starline FM Visual Radio
|Private
|Starline Media Network
|Sinhala, Hindi, Tamil
|1 July 2024
|-
|Youth One Radio
|Private
|Vibe Broadcasting Network
|Sinhala
|4 July 2022
|-
|Hela Nada Radio
|Private
|Vibe Broadcasting Network
|Sinhala
|31 May 2024
|-
|HITZ fm 24
|Private
|Vibe Broadcasting Network
|English
|1 November 2021
|-
|WIDE Radio
|Private
|Vibe Broadcasting Network
|English
|31 May 2024
|-
|Ever Fm
|Private
|Ever Broadcasting Group
|Sinhala
|12 March 2021
|-
| align="left" |Beat FM
|align="left"|Private
|DigiBiz Holdings Pvt Ltd|| align="left" |Sinhala, Tamil, English || 9 May 2015
|-
| align="left" |Heart FM
|align="left"|Private
|DigiBiz Holdings Pvt Ltd|| align="left" |Sinhala, Tamil, English || 16 May 2021
|-
| align="left" |Radio.lk
|align="left"|Private
|DigiBiz Holdings Pvt Ltd|| align="left" |Sinhala, Tamil, English || 25 November 2022
|-
| align="left" |GOODFM.LK
|align="left"|Private
|Good Media Network Limited|| align="left" |Sinhala, English, Tamil, Hindi || 2017
|-
| align="left" |FREEFM.LK
|align="left"|Private
|Good Media Network Limited|| align="left" |Sinhala, English, Tamil, Hindi || 2017
|-
| align="left" |CSL FM
|align="left"|Private
|CS BroadCasting Limited|| align="left" |Sinhala/English || 2023
|-
| align="left" |Mark FM
|align="left"|Private
|MF GROUP PVT LTD|| align="left" |Sinhala || 2016
|-
| align="left" |Amen FM
|align="left"|Private
|MF GROUP PVT LTD|| align="left" |English || 2022
|-
| align="left" |Haritha Radio|| align="left" |Community || align="left" |Haritha Network (Haritha TV) || align="left" |Sinhala || 2022
|-
| align="left" |Aquinas Radio|| align="left" |Private || align="left" |Aquinas University College. || align="left" |Sinhala and English || 2014
|-
| align="left" |CRI Sri Lanka || align="left" |Private || align="left" |China Radio International || align="left" |English and Sinhala || 2010
|-
| align="left" |Daham Gagana Radio || align="left" |Charity || align="left" |Edirisingharama Monastery || align="left" |Sinhala || 2011
|-
| align="left" |Everlasting Radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MJF Media || align="left" |English ||
|-
| align="left" |ilamai FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |ilamai Media || align="left" |Tamil || 24 October 2012
|-
| align="left" |Kirula Radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" | || align="left" |Sinhala ||
|-
| align="left" |Sabanda Radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sabanda Networks|| align="left" |Sinhala || 10 October 2015
|-
| align="left" |Siyeli Handa || align="left" |Charity || align="left" |Sinhala Catholic Radio || align="left" |Sinhala || 2013
|-
| align="left" |Rasa FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Sky Media Network || align="left" |Sinhala ||
|-
| align="left" |Tamil2 FM || align="left" |private || align="left" |Tamil 2 || align="left" |Tamil || January 2016
|-
| align="left" |Tamilaruvi Radio || align="left" |private || align="left" |North East Media || align="left" |Tamil || May 2011
|-
| align="left" |Thaalam FM || align="left" |Private || align="left" |Yellowin Media || align="left" |Tamil ||
|-
| align="left" |Tharu || align="left" |Private || || align="left" |Sinhala ||
|-
| align="left" |Max digital radio || align="left" |Private || align="left" |MGMR Networks || align="left" |Sinhala || 10 September 2006
|-
|Sanda Radio
|Private
|
|Sinhala
|2024
|-
|Athavan Radio
|Private
|Lyca Media
|Tamil
|October 2016
|}
International broadcasters
Several international broadcasters operate radio stations aimed at Sri Lankan audiences but broadcasting from outside Sri Lanka:
- All India Radio
- Starline FM Visual Radio Sinhala, Hindi and Tamil Service
- BBC World Service Sinhala Service (Sandeshaya)
- BBC World Service Tamil Service (Tamilosai)
- China Radio International Sinhala Service
- China Radio International Tamil Service
- Radio Veritas Asia
Some broadcasters use local transmitters to relay their broadcasts. Deutsche Welle broadcasts are relayed via Trincomalee on medium wave and short wave. Trans World Radio India broadcasts on medium wave using SLBC's transmitter in Puttalam. The International Broadcasting Bureau broadcasts programmes from Voice of America, Radio Azadi, Radio Free Afghanistan, Radio Free Asia, Radio Liberty and Radio Sawa on short wave using the relay station at Iranawila.
See also
- List of Sri Lankan Broadcasters
- List of Television in Sri Lanka
- List of newspapers in Sri Lanka