Nimal Laksshapathiarachchi was a veteran broadcaster and pioneer of private broadcasting in Sri Lanka. He was the founder of Sirasa FM and Sirasa TV stations, which marked a turning point in Sri Lanka's radio and television industry.[1] Lakshapathiarachchi played a significant role in revolutionizing radio broadcasting and popular culture in Sri Lanka, challenging the established norms and introducing innovative programming formats.
Early life and career
editBorn in 1954,[2] Nimal Lakshapathiarachchi began his radio career in the 1970s with Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
Contribution to broadcasting
editLakshapathiarachchi's most notable contributions were the establishment of Sirasa FM in March 1994 and Sirasa TV in 1998. Sirasa FM quickly gained popularity, becoming the market leader within a year of its launch. The station introduced innovative practices such as presenting news in spoken Sinhala, providing a more friendly and accessible format compared to the traditional written form. Lakshapathiarachchi and his team also pioneered the concept of covering news every hour on the hour, setting a new standard for other channels to follow.
Personal life and demise
editNimal Lakshapathiarachchi was the father of two children. His son Vishva later became a popular social media content creator. Lakshapathiarachchi passed away on July 19, 2012, in Colombo. He was 57 years old at the time of his death.[3]