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{{Short description|Sri Lankan state-owned broadcaster}}
{{about|Sri Lankan television|the British Independent Television network|ITV (TV network)|similarly named topics|Independent Television (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect-multi|2|ITN Ltd|ITN channel|the British Independent Television News Limited|ITN|the former British ITN News Channel|ITV News Channel|similarly named topics|ITN (disambiguation)}}
{{primary sources|date=January 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Independent Television Network Ltd
| logo = Independent Television Network (Sri Lanka) Logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Government-owned corporation]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founder = {{plainlist|
* [[Shan Wickremesinghe]]
* [[Anil R. Wijewardene]]
}}
| defunct =
| fate =
| area_served = [[Sri Lanka]]
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Shan Wickramasinghe ([[Organizational founder|founder]])
* Anil Wijewardene ([[Organizational founder|founder]])
}}
| industry = Television
| genre = [[Mass media]]
| products = Broadcasting Network
| services =
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 2.492 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15">{{cite web | url =https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/annual-report-independent-television-network-2015.pdf | title = ITN 2015 Annual Report| publisher = [[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] | access-date = March 12, 2016}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 507.33 million(2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| net_income = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 433.021 million (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| assets = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 4.059 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| equity = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 3.198 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| owner =
| num_employees = 684 (2018)<ref name="itn15"/>
| parent = [[Ministry of Information and Mass Media]]
| divisions =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.itn.lk}}
| caption =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1979|06|05|df=y}}
| location_city = [[Battaramulla]]
| location_country = [[Sri Lanka]]
| location = [[Wickramasinghepura]]
| locations =
}}

'''Independent Television Network Ltd''' ({{langx|si|ස්වාධීන රූපවාහිනී මාධ්‍ය ජාලය}}; {{langx|ta|சுயாதீன தொலைக்காட்சி ஊடக வளையமைப்பு}}), also known as '''ITN Ltd''' or simply as '''ITN''' ({{langx|si|අයිටීඑන්}}), is a state-governed television and radio broadcaster in Sri Lanka. Its headquarters are located in [[Wickramasinghepura]], [[Battaramulla]]. ITN received the Shrama Abhimani Award in October 2009.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.youtube.com/?v=3YSdPTxZriE
|title=Shrama Abhimani awards for ITN
|author=The ITN Channel Reporters
|publisher=The ITN Channel
|date=14 October 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref> The network broadcasts programmes to a wide demographic within Sri Lanka as well as to the expatriate community. Its content is presented in [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and English, with broadcast coverage extending to 99% of the country.<ref name="about_itn">{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/about-itn
|title = About ITN
|author = ITN Digital
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091227013549/http://www.itn.lk/about.html
|archive-date = 27 December 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref name="itn_coverage">{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/receiving.html
|title = Receiving ITN
|author = The ITN Channel
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100103080847/http://www.itn.lk/receiving.html
|archive-date = 3 January 2010
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref name="st_prime">{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/life/132-life/11846.html
|title = Prime feat from ITN
|author = Susitha R. Fernand
|newspaper = [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]]
|date = 22 November 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The ITN channel is the flagship television channel of ITN Ltd. In addition, ITN operates three [[FM radio]] stations: [[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] (formerly ITN FM), which broadcasts in [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]; Vasantham FM, which broadcasts in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]; and [[Prime Radio]], which broadcasts in English. ITN also operates [[Vasantham TV]], a second television channel that broadcasts in Tamil. In recent years, ITN launched ITN News, an online portal designed to distribute local news internationally.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.itnnews.lk/
|title=ITN News – Latest Sri Lankan News
|author=Independent Television Network
|access-date=31 January 2010
}}</ref>

ITN channel was the first [[1080p]] full HD television channel in Sri Lanka. ITN Ltd invested Rs. 200 million in the construction of the country's first HD studio complex, commencing high-resolution broadcasting on 30 June 2016.

==History==
Prior to the establishment of ITN, several decisions had to be taken regarding the deployment of television in Sri Lanka. The Japanese company [[NEC]] provided technical assistance for the construction of the station, and later also supported the establishment of [[Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation|Rupavahini]] in 1982. The development of ITN took place alongside that of Rupavahini. One of the crucial decisions concerned the selection of a colour television system. Although neighbouring India was then operating a black-and-white system using NTSC equipment, Sri Lanka adopted the PAL system, with technical support provided by Japan, which itself used a [[NTSC-J|variant of NTSC]].

ITN was founded by Anil Wijewardene and Shan Wickremesinghe at Mahalwarawa, with additional support from an American investor. The first test transmissions were carried out in 1979 and were initially received only in Colombo, the channel's first coverage area. Early programming included international content such as the American educational series [[Sesame Street|''Sesame Street'']] and the British sitcom [[Mind Your Language|''Mind Your Language'']].<ref name="off">{{Cite web|last=Amunugama|first=Sarath|date=2022-11-27|title=Television takes off; JRJ takes over ITN fathered by two of his nephews|url=https://island.lk/television-takes-off-jrj-takes-over-itn-fathered-by-two-of-his-nephews/|url-status=live|access-date=2023-06-07|website=The Island|language=en|archive-date=2023-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607135142/https://island.lk/television-takes-off-jrj-takes-over-itn-fathered-by-two-of-his-nephews/}}</ref>

ITN Ltd formally commenced operations on 13 April 1979 with the launch of the ITN television channel.<ref name="about_itn" /> As the first television broadcasting service in Sri Lanka and South Asia, ITN introduced the first terrestrial television channel in the country. It was also the first privately owned television station in a region where radio and television were generally under government control.<ref name="itn_so">
{{cite news
|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/13/imp06.asp
|title=Digital future
|author=Observer Reporters
|newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]]
|date=13 September 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606005314/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/13/imp06.asp
|archive-date=6 June 2011
|url-status=live
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref> The founding board of directors comprised [[Shan Wickramasinghe]], Anil Wijewardene and Bob Christie. Initially, the ITN studios and transmission station were located at Mahalwarawa Estate, [[Pannipitiya]]. A one-kilowatt transmitter and a {{convert|65|feet}} transmission tower broadcast within a {{convert|15|mile|km}} radius of [[Colombo]].<ref name="about_itn" /> However, due to the geographical location of the station, weather conditions and limitations of the transmission equipment, early viewers often experienced disruptions and interference in programmes caused by voltage fluctuations.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

On 5 June 1979, ITN Ltd was taken over by the state as a business undertaking under a [[Competent Authority]].<ref name="about_itn" /> The late [[Thevis Guruge|D. Thevis L. Guruge]], former Director General of the [[Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation]], was appointed as Competent Authority and played a significant role in the early development of the organisation.

Soon after commencing test broadcasts, ITN expanded its regular programming to a wider urban area. Local companies began importing Japanese-manufactured television sets, and sales quickly exceeded projections by UNESCO. At the time, television in India was still limited to black-and-white transmissions by [[Doordarshan]], largely aimed at [[Satellite Instructional Television Experiment|agricultural education]], which contributed to the high demand for Japanese-made television sets in Sri Lanka, some of which were smuggled across borders due to the absence of an established market for foreign brands.<ref name="off" />

ITN was also the pioneer of [[colour television]] broadcasting in Sri Lanka.<ref name="itn_so" /> On 5 June 1984, ITN relocated to its present headquarters in [[Wickramasinhapura]]. In 1992, ITN was converted into a public company, with the state as its major shareholder.<ref name="about_itn" /> Thereafter, its revenue, programming diversity, technical capacity and coverage expanded considerably.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Among its radio operations, ITN manages [[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] and Vasantham FM. Lakhanda originated as a subsidiary of the [[Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation]] (SLBC) and was amalgamated with ITN Ltd on 1 April 1997.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/
|title=Origin of Lakhanda
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207054656/http://www.lakhanda.lk/about.html
|archive-date=7 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref> It broadcasts content in Sinhala. Vasantham FM, launched in June 2009, was established to cater to the Tamil-speaking community in Sri Lanka.

On 25 June 2009, ITN introduced its second television channel, [[Vasantham TV]], which broadcasts in Tamil.<ref name="gov_vasTV">{{cite news
|url=http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10330&Itemid=44
|title="Vasantham TV" transmissions from today
|author=The Sri Lankan Government
|author-link=The Sri Lankan Government
|publisher=[[The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka]]
|date=25 June 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/30/fea23.asp
|title = ITN introduces Vasantham TV
|author = Ruwini Jayawardana
|work = [[Daily News (Sri Lanka)|Daily News]]
|date = 30 June 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030108/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/30/fea23.asp
|archive-date = 5 June 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> On 12 November 2009, ITN also launched [[Prime TV Sri Lanka|Prime TV]] and [[Prime Radio Sri Lanka|Prime Radio]], which provide content in English.<ref name="st_prime" /><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/11/art08.asp
|title = Prime TV and Prime Radio breaks into the scene
|author = Ruwini Jayawardana
|work = [[Daily News (Sri Lanka)|Daily News]]
|date = 11 November 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030220/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/11/art08.asp
|archive-date = 5 June 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>

==Programmes==

The television channels and radio stations of ITN Ltd broadcast a wide range of programmes in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The following are some of the programmes and genres associated with its services.

'''ITN channel (Sinhala)'''<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/programs.html
|title = ITN Programmes and Schedule
|author = ITN Ltd
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091227015508/http://www.itn.lk/programs.html
|archive-date = 27 December 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News (in Sinhala, Tamil and English)
*Teledramas (''Amaa'', ''Ridee Siththam'', ''Muthu Warusa'', ''Tharu Piri Ahasak'', ''Parana Towuma'', ''Poori'', [[Emy (TV Series)|''Emy'']], ''Snehaye Dasi'', ''Nethu Piyena Thura'', [[Kopi Kade|''Kopi Kade'']], ''Aluth Gedera'', ''Sihina Tharaka'', ''Rantharu'', [[Bonda Meedum|''Bonda Meedum'']], ''Rana'')
*Films – Classic Sinhala films
*Documentaries (''Atapattama'')
*Educational programmes
*Children's entertainment
*Programmes dubbed in Sinhala
*Game shows
*Reality television
*Religious programmes
*Political debates

'''Vasantham TV (Tamil)'''<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*News
*Teledramas
*Films – Tamil and Hindi films
*Documentaries
*Educational programmes <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070812/TV/tv_13.html |title=Creatas muppets enact 'Panchathanthra' |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref>
*Children's entertainment

'''[[Prime TV Sri Lanka|Prime TV]] (English)'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.primetv.lk
|title=Prime TV Programmes
|author=Prime TV
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*News
*Music programmes (''Music Runway'', ''House of Rock'', ''Music With Bevil'')
*Debates and discussions (''The Round Table'', ''Ayubowan Sri Lanka'', ''Prime Sunrise'')
*Educational and variety programmes (''Prime Sunset'')
*Drama (''Beverly Hills 90210'', ''Relic Hunter'', ''Queen of Swords'')
*Other content – Sports, foreign news, cartoons
'''[[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] (Sinhala)'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/programmes.html
|title=Lakhanda programmes
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218072129/http://www.lakhanda.lk/programmes.html
|archive-date=18 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/schedule.html
|title=Lakhanda schedule
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216225214/http://www.lakhanda.lk/schedule.html
|archive-date=16 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News
*Music – Sinhala
*Religious programmes
*Educational programmes
*Political programmes

'''Vasantham FM (Tamil)'''<ref name="gov_vasTV" /><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/programs.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104255/http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/programs.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=5 March 2016
|title=Vasantham FM Programmes and Schedule
|author=Vasantham FM
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*News
*Music – Tamil
*Religious programmes
*Educational programmes
*Political programmes

'''[[Prime Radio]] (English)'''<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.primeradio.lk/shows.html
|title = Prime Radio Shows
|author = Prime Radio
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722145635/http://www.primeradio.lk/shows.html
|archive-date = 22 July 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News
*Music

==Frequencies and coverage==

Cumulatively, the broadcasts of ITN Ltd reach more than 99% of Sri Lanka. However, the individual coverage of each television channel and radio station varies considerably.

'''ITN'''<ref name="itn_coverage" />
*Frequencies: VHF Channel 9, VHF Channel 12, VHF Channel 24
*Coverage: 99% of the country, with limited gaps in certain areas of the Northern Province
*International coverage: Live online streaming via ''The ITN Channel Online''

'''Vasantham TV'''<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*Frequencies: VHF Channel 9, UHF Channel 25
*Coverage: Western Province, Northern Province, Eastern Province
*International coverage: Live online streaming via ''Vasantham TV Online''

'''Prime TV'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.facebook.com/PrimeTV.UHF24
|title=Facebook – Prime TV
|author=Prime TV
|website=[[Facebook]]
|access-date=31 December 2009
|author-link=Prime TV Sri Lanka
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://twitter.com/PrimeTVsrilanka
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209133922/http://www.twitter.com/PrimeTVsrilanka
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=9 December 2012
|title=Twitter – Prime TV
|author=Prime TV
|access-date=31 December 2009
|author-link=Prime TV Sri Lanka
}}</ref>
*Frequencies: UHF Channel 24
*Coverage: Western Province
*International coverage: Live online streaming via ''Prime TV Online''

'''Lakhanda'''<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.lakhanda.lk
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061115123501/http://www.lakhanda.lk/
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 15 November 2006
|title = Lakhanda
|author = Lakhanda
|author-link = Lakhanda
|access-date = 31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*Frequencies and coverage: 97.6 MHz – Colombo and Southern Province; 87.9 MHz – Northern Province; and 88.5 MHz – Islandwide
*International coverage: Live online streaming via ''Lakhanda Radio Online''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Untitled Document |url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115123501/http://www.lakhanda.lk/ |archive-date=2006-11-15 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=www.lakhanda.lk}}</ref>

'''Vasantham FM'''<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*Frequencies and coverage: 97.6 MHz – Colombo, 97.0 MHz – other selected regions
*International coverage: Live online streaming via Vasantham FM Online

'''Prime Radio'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.primeradio.lk
|title=Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.facebook.com/PrimeRadio104.5
|title=Facebook – Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|website=[[Facebook]]
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://twitter.com/PrimeRadio
|title=Twitter – Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*Frequencies and coverage: 104.5 MHz – Colombo, 95.5 MHz – Kandy, 99.0 MHz – Galle
*International coverage: Live online streaming via ''Prime Radio Online''
==Logo==
ITN's logo, which until the June 1979 government takeover, read TV Sri Lanka, was designed by S. H. Sarath. After that, Jayath Janasuriya revised it, replacing "TV" with "ITN" and adding the channel name in Sinhala and Tamil. In December 1999, when Newton Gunaratne became president of the network, the logo underwent a drastic redesign, resembling an ''awanak'' fan, in red, green and blue. This did not last long and was replaced within months by a new one, depicting a purple lily and the channel's initials in black written inside red (I), green (T) and blue (N) circles. It was replaced by a purple symbol on 7 April 2001, putting more empmhasis on the lily, the national flower. On February 8, 2002, the old ITN logo was restored.<ref name="ITN25">{{cite book |title=25 years of television in Sri Lanka |author=Es. Sajīvanī Helan Mutumuṇi |date=2004 |publisher=Katōlika Mādhya Parśdaya (Sri Lanka) |url=https://www.google.pt/books/edition/25_years_of_television_in_Sri_Lanka/EUxQAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E0%B6%92+%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7+%E0%B6%91%E0%B6%BA+%E0%B7%84%E0%B6%B3%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%8F+%E0%B6%87%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%9A+TV+Sri+Lanka%22&dq=%22%E0%B6%92+%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7+%E0%B6%91%E0%B6%BA+%E0%B7%84%E0%B6%B3%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%8F+%E0%B6%87%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%9A+TV+Sri+Lanka%22&printsec=frontcover |access-date=26 December 2025 |language=si}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of television networks in Sri Lanka]]
*[[List of radio networks in Sri Lanka]]
*[[Media of Sri Lanka]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*ITN starts HD broadcasting: [https://web.archive.org/web/20161002180236/http://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/sri-lankas-first-full-hd-television-studio-complex-will-be-opened-tomorrow/ Sri Lanka's first full HD television studio complex will be opened tomorrow], 29 June 2016

==External links==
*[http://www.itn.lk/ Official website of the ITN Channel]
*[http://www.itnfm.lk ITN FM Radio]
*[http://www.vasantham.lk/ Vasantham TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917120012/https://www.vasantham.lk/ |date=17 September 2023 }}
*[http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/ Vasantham FM Radio]
*[http://www.primetv.lk/ Prime TV Sri Lanka]
*[http://www.primeradio.lk/ Prime Radio Sri Lanka]
*[http://www.itnnews.lk/ Official Govt. News Portal – ITN News]
*[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050724/tv/1.html ITN goes digital]

{{Media of Sri Lanka}}

[[Category:Sinhala-language television stations]]
[[Category:Independent Television Network| ]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1979]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Sri Lanka]]

Independent Television Network - Revision history

Krishna57edits at 22:27, 26 December 2025