Livy Wijemanne

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Livy Wijemanne was a pioneer of Radio Ceylon. He was one of Sri Lanka's greatest broadcasters, on October 31st 1948, the Post Master General (who was also Director of Broadcasting) appointed the young announcer, Assistant Controller of Programmes. This was a start of his career in management in Radio Ceylon - the oldest radio station in South Asia.

Noel Cruz writing in the 'Island' newspaper observed: 'The Broadcasting station that had moved from Cotta Road to Torrington Square needed drive and Wijemanne provided it. He identified talent, welcomed new broadcasters and any experiments in presentation. It was Livy who first mapped out the logistics of 'Outside broadcasts', especially of the entertainment programmes relayed from the big hotels.'

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[edit] Colombo Plan Scholar

Livy Wijemanne came on a Colombo Plan scholarship to the United Kingdom in early 1953. He worked with the famous John Arlott in Scotland, Wales and London. The BBC chose Wijemanne to occupy a seat assigned to a Commonwealth broadcasters at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth on June 22nd 1953 at Westminster Abbey. Wijemanne was invited the British Council to reply to the toast of the Commonwealth proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Richard Mauldling at the Coronation Civic dinner at North Garnet.

[edit] Director Commercial Service

In 1955 the Government of Ceylon made Livy Wijemanne Assistant Director of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon, he became Director in 1956. Wijemanne worked very closely with the Australian administrator, Clifford Dodd who came to Radio Ceylon under the Colombo Plan. Dodd changed the face of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon turning it into an international brand - he was abely supported by Livy Wijemanne who recruited some of Ceylon's best talents - they were trained by Dodd and Wijemanne and were Ceylon's pioneering professional broadcasters. Millions of listeners tuned into Radio Ceylon. The station was the most popular radio station in South Asia in the 1950s and 1960s.

[edit] Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation

In January 1984 Livy was appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Livy Wijemanne died in 2002.

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