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Sri Lankan Publishing Industry Index

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Sri Lankan Publishing
Industry
Kumesh Prabhashini Gamage
PhD candidate
Department of Publishing Science
School of Information Management
Wuhan University
Index
01. Introduction
- Background of Sri Lanka
- Background of Sri Lankan Publishing Industry

02. History of Sri Lankan Publishing Industry

- Pre Colonial Era
- Colonial Era
- Post Colonial Era
03. Contemporary Sri Lankan Publishing Industry
- Sri Lankan Book Industry
- Sri Lankan Magazine Industry
- Sri Lankan Newspaper Industry
04. Digital Journalism
- Social Media Usage and New Trends
- Sri Lankan Digital Journalism
01
Introduction
•Background of Sri Lanka
•Background of Publishing Industry
Background of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a developing island situated in the Indian Ocean

southeast of India, is the 24th-largest island in the world. It is a
low-income country where technologies are proliferating rapidly
in all parts of the country, particularly in urban areas. In the Sri
Lankan context the usage of digital media increased rapidly
during the last five years. Its mixed population, rich culture and
variety of religions and languages reflect in the publishing
industry. In this way the publishing industry is separated as
culture wise, religion wise and language wise.
Background of Publishing Industry There are numerous printing and publishing companies
throughout Sri Lanka. Books, newspapers, magazines and
periodicals mainly establish in the publishing industry. Sri
Lanka provides a wide range of commercial printing such as tea
cartons, garment tags, labels, posters and business cards.

In the last five years the rapid growth of social media that has
been observed is indicative of its importance and its integration
into the daily lives of many people in Sri Lanka. In parallel with
this, there has also been considerable growth in digital
journalism through the online medium. But the reachability of
social media is very much high with comparing the traditional
online mediums. As the result social media is converted as an
online news media and overcomes the existing media in digital
journalism.
 02
History of Sri Lankan Publishing Industry
• Pre – Colonial Era
• Colonial Era
• Post-Colonial Era
 Pre- Colonial Era

Buddhist communication & Political Communication

Talipot /Ola Leaves

creative communication
Seegiri Graffiti

Anuradhapura-Kotte
(Kingdom)
Buddhist Culture,
Agricultural life,
Foreign attack and political
Gold Leaf /Silver Leaf/ Copper Leaf communication
Buddhist communication & Political Communication
 Writing on ola leaves
Pre- Colonial Era
Buddhist texts were documented in ‘puskola’ – ola or talipot leaves. The
practice of writing on ola leaves continues to this day although it’s not
widely practised. Until recent times horoscopes were written on ola leaves
mainly to be preserved for several generations. They were rolled up and
kept.

The material for preparing the writing leaf is taken from young unopened
tender leaves from young trees. When the tender leaf is about to open, it
is cut and taken off and slit open. Then the leaflets within are separated
and taken out one by one. The midribs are removed and the strips of leaf
blades in rolls are immersed in a pot filled with cold water. The vessel is
placed over a slow fire till the water is gradually raised to boiling point.
The heat is then reduced and the leaves are allowed to simmer in water
for three or four hours. The leaves are later taken out and dried for a few
days in the sun. This is followed by the exposure of the leaf in the open air
to the dew for three nights for the leaf to be supple.

These leaves are rolled and kept until they are put through a process of
smoothing and finishing. For this, each leaf is taken out and a weight is
attached to one of the ends. It is then pulled up and down against the
smooth surface of a horizontal cylinder of wood. Normally the trunk of an
areca palm is used tied to two posts at a convenient height.
 Seegiri Graffiti

Professor Senarath Paranavithana started work on Sigiriya graffiti from

1928 and finally has made an incalculable contribution to Sri Lanka
Archeology by deciphering 685 Sigiriya graffiti from the mirror wall and
were published in two monumental volumes tittled Sigiri Graffiti in 1956.
Paranavithana’s publication contains majority of the complete poems which
are of high poetic quality. Benil Priyanka has done a strenuous detail study
and published another 800 graffiti which are shorter, incomplete or only the
name of visitor in 2010 which include 40 or more writings from
Polonnaruwa and Dambadeniya period. Visitors have written down their
poetic appreciation of the beauty of the ladies depicted in the paintings
while recording more than 1000 Sinhala words used at that time ,about
250 names of the Authors, large number of place names, names of
royalty, ranks and titles of authors, chronological development of
Sinhala script from 6th to 13th centaury and many other information
about Sinhala grammar, intellectual quality of the visitor, their literal
creativity and many more things of the society who visited Sigiriya.
Colonial Era

The colonial period start from 16th Centenary. In 1739, the Dutch occupiers country and introduced the
first printing press. The main purpose to introduce these machines was to print their laws and Christian
literature in local languages via Sinhala and Tamil. As a result of Dutch administrative areas
captured by the British presses fell into the hands of the new settlers. They have started in 1802 to
publish Government Gazette (then known as Ceylon). It communicator of new laws passed by
Parliament, of regulations under these laws, notifications treated as official and recognized by
courts of law and even appointments and transfers of government servants and judicial officers.

The Colombo Journal (1832) is the first newspaper in Sri Lanka. In 1834 the first non -governmental
newspaper namely the Colombo Observer and then become the Ceylon Observer, this newspaper exists
today. The British rulers introduced the Registration of Newspapers Ordinance No.5 of 1839. The
purpose of this law was to regulate the printing and publishing of newspapers. The law still in force
after amendments in 1951, 1973 and 1976.
Dutch Prayer Book – Sinhala Language First English Newspaper –Colombo Journal
 Post - Colonial Era

After granting the freedom from British Crown, newspapers contributed to be

realistic the independence.“It is recorded that in 1901, there were 30 newspapers-
13 in English,10in Sinhala and 7 in Tamil-catering to a population of 30,000
Europeans,2.5 million Sinhalese and 1 million Tamils” (Crawley& Pinto-
Jayawardana,2015:33).
Commercial Newspapers started by the major indigenous newspaper groups
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon - 1918
Independent Newspapers Ltd - 1960
Upali Newspapers Ltd - 1981
Wijaya Newspaper Company - 1979

(Times acquired by the government under an obnoxious Business

Acquisition Act, and liquidated soon. Thereafter the Dawasa
Niwasa also came to end of its publication and start Wijaya
Newspaper company under the new ownership)
 03
Contemporary Sri Lankan
Publishing Industry
• Sri Lankan Book Industry
• Sri Lankan Magazine Industry
• Sri Lankan Newspaper Industry
 Sri Lankan Book Industry

According to the latest UNESCO statistics, Sri Lanka produced 4,115 titles in
1996. Unlike most countries in South Asia, the National Book Development
Council of Sri Lanka is a permanent body attached to the Ministry of
Education and Higher Education. Its objectives and activities include
promotion of the reading habit, encouragement to local authors and
publishers, organisation of seminars and workshops for the book industry
personnel, assistance to writers and illustrators of children's books,
organisations of book exhibitions and library
development.https://www.accu.or.jp/appreb/report/abd/abd3032.html
Book Fairs

•KANDY BOOK FAIR

(The Kandy Book Fair will be held from June 26 – 30,
2019 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Kandy City Centre)

•COLOMBO INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

(The Colombo International Book Fair will be held from
September 20 – 29, 2019 from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm at the
BMICH)

•SOUTHERN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

(Southern Festival of Books is a book fair which brings
together exhibitors who display their library services,
educational resources, nonfiction, fiction, and picture
books to interactive books and audio books and much
more).
•INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIRS
( The SLBPA has participated in book fairs in Sharjah,
Beijing, and the World Book Fair in New Delhi. Wide
array of books published in Sri Lanka were displayed at
the stalls).
 Book Awards

Rajatha Pusthaka Award

•The best short story

•The best poetry book
•The best juvenile book

Swarna Pusthaka Award

•Best novel published
 Leading Book Companies

•Sarasavi Book Publishers

•Akura Book Publishers
•Godage Book
•M. D. Gunasena & Co;
•Master Guide Publications
•Rathna Book Publishers
•Sadeepa Book Publishers
•Samayawardhana
Publishers
•Wasana Book Publishers
•Dayawansa Jayakody &
Company
•Samudra Book Publishers https://www.lankanewspapers.com/2018/09/18/colombo-international-book-fair-returns-city-
milestone-20th-year/?gclid=Cj0KCQjww47nBRDlARIsAEJ34bm-

•Sathara Prakashakayo gS0MW6e9Z37da236dzWxPN0XzXkpMcAZAtDt3Wpwc_ypWgsrbwoaAstoEALw_wcB

•Susara Publications
 Sri Lankan Magazine Industry

The first printed magazine in Sri Lanka was the Masika

Thegga (Monthly Gift) Magazine published in 1832. This
magazine, which contains Bible-based material, has been
printed to distribute students to missionary schools and
was originally published in Kotte. In the early 19th
century, printing began in Sri Lanka. At first, there was no
major change in the magazine and newspaper originally,
newspapers began publishing Christian Religions. The
Monthly Gift -1832, the Roberto Spans Hardy's Ceylon
Treasure-1840 , The Neared, Neapons of Harris 1842,
such as the magazines for such Christianity
propaganda(Weerasinghe,A:2014:28). However, before
1832, there have also been publications published in the
magazine format.
 https://lmd.lk/

http://www.hi.lk/
 http://www.motormaglanka.lk/digital_magazines

https://www.lt.lk/
Sri Lankan Newspaper Industry

Newspaper publishing in Sri Lanka has

a history of 180 years during which
they have provided a mirror on society
and a platform for discussing matters
of public interest. The early years saw
many new publications emerge, but
very few survived for long. Within two
decades of the first English newspaper,
Sinhala and Tamil language
newspapers also emerged. Today,
dozens of newspapers in three
languages cater to the 20 million
Lankans many of who still read
newspapers.
 Newspaper Name Description

Lankadeepa Lankadeepa is a daily Sri Lankan Sinhala language newspaper which is owned by
Wijeya Newspapers. They were established in 1991. The Chairman of the organis
ation is Ranjith Wijewardene, the son of D. R. Wijewardena. The newspaper's cov
erage includes politics, sports, entertainment and military.
The Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror is a daily English-language newspaper published in Colombo, S
ri Lanka, by Wijeya Newspapers. Its Sunday counterpart is the Sunday Times. Its
sister newspaper on financial issues is the Daily FT.
The Sunday Times The Sunday Times is a weekly Sri Lankan broadsheet initially published by the n
ow defunct Times Group, until 1991, when it was taken over by Wijeya Newspap
ers. The paper features articles of journalists such as defence columnist Iqbal Ath
as and Ameen Izzadeen.
Daily News The Daily News is an English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is now publish
ed by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, a government-owned corpo
ration. The newspaper commenced publishing on 3 January 1918. D. R. Wijewar
dena was its founder.
Sunday Observer Sunday Observer is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka, publishe
d on Sundays. The Sunday Observer and its sister newspapers the Daily News, Di
namina, Silumina and Thinakaran are published by Associated Newspapers of Ce
ylon Limited, a government-owned corporation.
 Newspaper Name Description

Uthayan Uthayan is a Tamil language Sri Lankan daily newspaper published by New Utha
yan Publication Limited, part of the Uthayan Group of Newspapers. It was found
ed in 1985 and is published from Jaffna. Its sister newspapers is the Colombo bas
ed Sudar Oli.
Virakesari Virakesari is one of the leading Tamil daily newspapers in Sri Lanka. It is the old
est and the largest circulated Tamil Newspaper in Sri Lanka. Virakesari is owned
by Express Newspapers Limited, a leading print and web media organization in S
ri Lanka.
Silumina Silumina is a Sinhala language weekly newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by
the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, a government-owned corporation.
The newspaper commenced publishing in 1930, D. R. Wijewardena being its foun
der. It currently has a circulation of 265,000.
Lakbima Lakbima is a Sri Lankan private Sinhala language newspaper which is owned by t
he Sumathi News Papers Limited. Chairmen of the organization is Mileena Suma
thipala, wife of the late D.W. Sumathipala. The English version of this newspaper
is called Lakbima News.
Divaina Divaina is a Sinhala language daily newspaper published by the Upali Newspaper
s in Sri Lanka. A sister newspaper of The Island, Divaina was established in 1981
. Its Sunday edition is the Sunday Divaina. The daily newspaper currently has a ci
rculation of 156,000 and its Sunday edition, 340,000 per issue.
 Newspaper Name Description

Mawbima Mawbima is a weekly Sinhala language newspaper that publishes news, letters, ar
ticles and features related to Sri Lanka.

The Island The Island is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by
Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of Divaina, The Island was established in
1981. Its Sunday edition, Sunday Island, commenced publishing in 1991.
Thinakaran Thinakaran is a daily Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Associated
Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. Its sister newspaper are Sunday Observer, Silumi
na, Dinamina and Daily News. The daily newspaper has a circulation of 50,000 a
nd its Sunday version, Thinakaran Varamanjari, 70,000 per issue.
Thinakkural Thinakkural is a Tamil newspaper published in Sri Lanka. It was founded by Pon
Rajagobal, former editor of Virakesari in 1997. There have reported number of att
empts to force the paper to stop its distribution in recent times.
Rivira Rivira is a weekly Sinhala newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published on every Sund
ay, by Rivira Media Corporation Ltd. It is a sister newspaper of The Nation, whic
h entered into the business in 2006. It has a circulation of 265,000 per issue and a
n estimated readership of 1,600,000 by 2012.
 Newspaper Name Description

Ceylon Today Ceylon Today is an English language Sri Lankan daily newspaper published by Ce
ylon Newspapers Limited. It was founded in 2011 and is published from Colombo.
Its sister newspaper is the Mawbima. Ceylon Newspapers Limited is owned by poli
tician Tiran Alles.
The Sunday Leader The Sunday Leader is an English-language Sri Lankan weekly newspaper publishe
d by Leader Publications Limited. It was founded in 1994 and is published from Co
lombo. Its sister newspapers are the Iruresa and the defunct The Morning Leader.
Daily FT The Daily FT or the Daily Financial Times is a daily English-language newspaper p
ublished in Colombo, Sri Lanka, by Wijeya Newspapers. Its sister newspaper The
Daily Mirror and its Sunday counterpart Sunday Times are among the important ne
wspapers in Sri Lanka.
Sudar Oli Sudar Oli is a Tamil language Sri Lankan daily newspaper published by Mass Medi
a Syndicate Limited, part of the Uthayan Group of Newspapers. It was founded in
2000 and is published from Colombo. Its sister newspaper is the Jaffna based Utha
yan.
Dinamina Dinamina is a Sinhala language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by the
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, a government-owned corporation. The
newspaper commenced publishing in 1909. It was founded by the Sinhalese scholar
H. S. Perera who acted as both owner and editor-in-chief of the paper at the outset.
 Newspaper Name Description

Ravaya Ravaya is a Sri Lankan Sinhala newspaper published by Victor Ivan. Established in 1
987, it is known for its radical political views. Ravaya was a staunch supporter of Ch
andrika Kumaratunga in 1994.
Lakbima News Lakbima News is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published
on every Sunday, by Sumathi Newspapers Ltd. A sister newspaper of Lakbima, Lakb
ima News was established in 2007.
The Nation The Nation is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published on
every Sunday, by Rivira Media Corporation Ltd. A sister newspaper of Rivira, The N
ation was established in 2006. It has a circulation of 132,000 per issue and an estimat
ed readership of 662,000 by 2012.
The Morning Leader The Morning Leader is a Sri Lankan English-language newspaper. It is published by
Leader Publications Ltd. Its sister publications are The Sunday Leader and Iruresa.
The Morning Leader was refounded by Lasantha Wickramatunge who was assassinat
ed in January 2009.
The Times of Ceylon The Times of Ceylon was an English language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka publish
ed by Times of Ceylon Limited. It was founded in 1846 as the Ceylon Times and was
published from Colombo. It ceased publication in 1985.
 Newspaper Name Description

Colombo Post The Colombo Post is a Sri Lankan English-language weekly newspaper, published e
very Tuesday.

Saturday Review The Saturday Review was an English-language weekly newspaper in Sri Lanka publi
shed by New Era Publications Limited. It was founded in 1982 and was published fr
om Jaffna. It ceased publication in 1987.
Sri Lankan Gazette The Sri Lanka Gazette, officially The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic o
f Sri Lanka, is a public journal of the Government of Sri Lanka. It prints certain statu
tory notices from the government.
Sri Lankadeepa Sri Lankadeepa was a Sinhala language weekly newspaper in Ceylon published by T
imes of Ceylon Limited. It was founded in 1951 and was published from Colombo. I
n 1966 it had an average net sales of 118,561. It had an average circulation of 133,09
3 in 1970, 85,654 in 1973 and 55,000 in 1976.
 http://www.lankadeepa.lk/
Print Online

https://www.facebook.com/lankadeepa/
 04
Digital Journalism

•Sri Lankan Digital Journalism

• Social Media Usage and New Trends
 Social Media Usage and New Trends

After the end of thirty years of civil war Sri Lanka suddenly adapt to current and ongoing technology. In last few
years the rapid growth in usage of social medium is extreme in Sri Lanka. Facebook as one of these social networks
has become a popular social medium among contemporary Sri Lankan youth (Silva & Peliarachchi).

Several reasons were there

behind vast usage of social
network.
•Crazy about Facebook
•Looking forward to news
and/or interesting posts
•For professional purposes

Figure 1. Distribution of users in each social media category

The candidates who wish to get access of news
content through social networking also suggest
the mode to represent those in main page. In
that survey question 94% candidates prefer
either a separate portal or separate grouping in
home page to access news contents

Figure 2. Modes of presenting news contents in social network: user’s perspective

Social media surveillance is a
comparatively novel form of
surveillance that is centered on
making evident on convergence
of social characteristics and
social accomplishments to
peoples. As we spend more and
more time online on social
media, a lot of our routine
activities in different roles during
a lot of our working and free
time become analyzable,
accessible and traceable.
 Sri Lankan Digital Journalism

Journalism is the practice of investigating, analyzing and reporting occasions, problems and trends to the mass spectators of
print, broadcast and online media such as newspapers, posters, magazines, publications and books, radio and television
stations and mass networks, and blogs and social and mobile media. Journalism may not necessarily want to engage in the
social media revolution but they are being forced to as if they do not they would be left behind.
Journalism on digital networks, and specifically on Internet, is a relatively recent phenomenon, whose spread began in
approximately 1994, in parallel to that of the World Wide Web. Study of this new communicative phenomenon began
simultaneously in several countries. Digital journalism also known as online journalism is a contemporary form of
journalism where editorial content is distributed via the Internet as opposed to publishing via printer broadcast. The primary
product of journalism which is news and features on current affairs, is presented exclusively solely or as amalgamation of
text, photos, audio, video and selected interactive forms, and distributed to become widely known through digital media
platforms.

Digital journalism has also turned to social media as it is the new form of technology that will take precedence over other older
forms of technology, it can no longer provide exposure to their news contents with the ancient way of dissemination. Social
media and user generated content is increasingly moving centre stage; influencing the strategic direction and practice of
journalism (Newman, 2009). News plays a varying role across the social networking sites. Approximately half of both
Facebook and Twitter users acquire news on such social sites, previous reports have shown. On the other hand in YouTube,
that is true of only one-fifth of its user base, and for LinkedIn, the number is even minor than previous.
 Digital News Sites Perspective

Researchers are took 5 famous local

news websites in Sri Lanka for their
research work and all of them are
maintaining at least one social medium.
In that sample 2 news web sites
providing their news contents in three
languages such as Sinhala, Tamil and
English. Other 2 websites provide news
only in Sinhala. Other 1 website
provides news contents only in Tamil.
those news sites into three broad
categories as Sinhala language sites,
Tamil language sites and multi-language
sites. The average news posts posted in
a day by each category news mediums
are given in the Figure 4.
Figure 4. Average Number of posts published in news sites
Figure 5. Average hits/views per day by local and Figure 6. Hits or views to news contents:
foreign candidates Direct Vs. through social media
Social media play a major role in dissemination of news articles.
Most of the people use social media as main medium to get access
of news articles. They suggest a different portal or separate
grouping in broadcasting or publishing news articles in social
media. At the same time social networking category leads in
promoting digital journalism.
 Thank you

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