Sunday Times 2
Kalasuri honours for broadcaster and cricket commentator Palitha Perera
View(s):
Palitha Perera receiving his national honours from President Sirisena
Palitha Perera, a renowned professional radio and television broadcaster and a pioneer of Sinhala cricket commentaries in Sri Lanka, has been awarded Kalasuri honours by President Maithripala Sririsena in recognition of his special contributions to the development of arts, culture and drama.
The honours were conferred on him at the National Honours ceremony held at the BMICH on August 19.
Mr. Perera Joined the Radio Ceylon as an announcer in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Sinhala Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation before retiring in 1997. He was also a pioneering director of Sri Lanka’s first FM service, City FM that was launched by the SLBC in 1989. Mr. Perera became a household name for his ball-by-ball live cricket radio commentaries in Sinhala, as he excelled in this field for more than fifty years. He was responsible of coining Sinhala words for many cricket terms and had an impressive ability to enliven the audiences with his unique delivery style. His efforts have led to the popularisation of the game among the masses in rural areas.
During his career, he has interviewed many prominent public personalities, held political talk shows, and hosted popular television programmes such as Ayubowan Suba Udasanak and Jana Mandalee. He owns the distinction of being the inaugural announcer of two TV channels – Rupavahini on 15th February 1982 and TNL TV on 21st July 1993.
Mr. Perera has been trained in broadcasting and journalism in Germany, Britain, the United States and and South Korea. At present, he is a freelance media consultant. He has also authored two books on local broadcasting history and on the development of cricket in Sri Lanka.
Ananda Chandrasekera