Sri Lanka has officially taken a major step forward in modernizing its broadcast infrastructure with the signing of the Engineering Consultancy Services Agreement for the implementation of the country’s Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) project.
The signing ceremony took place at the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), Ministry of Digital Economy, Colombo. The event was held under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, and the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mr. Isomata Akio.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and Mr. Gaku Adachi, Managing Director of Japan Engineering Consultancy Services. The project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Mass Media, with financial and technical assistance from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) arm of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which supports development projects in emerging nations.
The DTTB project is part of a broader effort to align with the global shift toward digital technology, providing viewers with significantly clearer visuals and eliminating the common issues associated with analog terrestrial TV signals. Sri Lanka’s current television and radio transmission infrastructure relies heavily on analog technology, which has been in place for over four decades.
Globally, many countries are transitioning away from analog broadcasting in favor of digital platforms, and Sri Lanka is now poised to join this movement. Digital broadcasting not only addresses the limitations of analog systems but also increases spectrum efficiency. One of the standout features of digital transmission is its ability to carry multiple programs over a single frequency band, significantly enhancing the use of radio spectrum. Once the DTTB project is completed, analog transmission will be phased out, allowing the freed-up spectrum to be redirected toward telecommunications and digital economy initiatives.
Speaking at the event, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa noted that Sri Lankans have received analog television services for nearly 45 years. “It is time to ensure that future generations enjoy the highest possible standards in their television viewing experience,” he said.
He emphasized that the DTTB initiative will create a state-of-the-art digital terrestrial television platform offering free-to-air broadcasting facilities for all television networks across the country. “This transition will deliver numerous benefits, including high-definition (HD) picture and sound quality, offering an unparalleled improvement over the analog system,” the Minister stated.
He further stressed that the implementation of digital broadcasting will ensure access to quality television for all citizens, regardless of their geographical location. Additionally, the transition will position Sri Lanka to compete more effectively in the rapidly evolving global media landscape and create new opportunities for growth in the media, entertainment, and communications sectors.
Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Harsana Suriyapperuma, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Engineer Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Chief Representative of JICA-Sri Lanka Kenji Kuronuma, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Kamoshida Naoaki, and several other dignitaries.
