Kala Korner by Dee Cee

SLBC opened a language laboratory to mark its 40th anniversary on January 5. According to Chairman Sunil Sarath Perera, it is a new concept and is not to be viewed from the linguistic angle. He prefers to call it a lab of traditional languages where one can listen to different forms of language being used in different parts of Sri Lanka.

For instance, collections of interviews with Tissahamy and other indigenous people are available at the lab. One can listen to the voice of patriots like Anagarika Dharmapala. The lab will provide useful material to the research student as well as the average person who would like to go back to the past.

Though the SLBC's record is just 40 years, State radio has a history of at least 82 years when 'Colombo Radio' was inaugurated on December 16, 1925 after successful experiments done by the Ceylon Telegraph Department.

Material recorded over many decades had been stacked in the shelves of Radio Ceylon and later SLBC, and now that material is being thrown open for use by the public. It's indeed a service to the community.

Sunil Sarath hopes that there will be prudent use of these facilities by the public. Of course, in the context of security concerns, the SLBC authorities will have to ensure that genuine users are able to gain admission without a hassle to make use of these facilities.

Disaster communication is another pioneering area where SLBC has taken the initiative in planning communicating to the public on pre, present and post periods of disasters. The shock of the tsunami has made the authorities realise the need for such ongoing communication and the SLBC hopes to render a valuable service in this aspect as an ongoing activity.

A rare publication

Five countries - Cuba, Sudan, Cameroon, Samoa Islands and Haiti - celebrate their national day on January 1. At least four newspapers - London Times (1788), Colombo Journal (1832), The Examiner (1846) and Kavata Katikaya (1872) - began publication on January 1.

In more recent times, it was on January 1 that Governor-General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke laid the foundation stone for the Samadhi at Horagolla (1960), UNIDO was started (1967), President J. R. Jayewardene inaugurated work on the Jetavana Dagoba under the UNESCO sponsored Cultural Triangle project (1980), civic rights of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Nihal Jayawickrema and Dr. M. A. M. Jalaldeen were restored (1986) and the Sri Lanka Salt Corporation was turned into a company (1991).

These and many more have been recorded in 'Dina 366' (366 days) - a recent publication detailing events which happened over the years. It is a directory covering both local and international happenings compiled by A.J.M. Shiranee Perera, a seasoned broadcaster and author of several books.

The ready-reckoner is obviously many years of hard work where she had collected material dating from the 16th century to 2004.

The range of topics is vast and what one may consider 'unimportant happenings' also find a place in the publication. The events of a particular day are listed in chronological order with certain events running into four to five pages for a single day.

The publication also lists out the national days of all the countries, and special days declared as 'World Days' and key holidays as well as British Governors, Secretaries of State for the Colonies, Chief Secretaries, Governors-General, Presidents, Speakers and Leaders of the House. The publication is primarily aimed at school children at a time when much interest is not paid to history but anyone will find it most interesting and useful.