New proposal for cost-effective alternative for Digital TV Project
A groundbreaking proposal by an engineer/entrepreneur is being considered by the government for the digital TV project, top officials said.
B.A.C. Abeywardana, Chairman of Television and Radio Networks (TV Lanka), has proposed three cost-effective alternatives to JICA’s proposed US$114 million proposal, aiming to implement
Sri Lanka’s Terrestrial Digital Television Broadcasting project—originally proposed by JICA in 2014—at just 7 per cent of the cost quoted, potentially saving the country a staggering $104 million (Rs. 32 billion).
“The JICA proposal relies on outdated ISDB-T technology for 24 Standard Definition (SD) TV channels. The first alternative, which I have proposed, costs $8 million and uses either ISDB-T or DVB-T2. This is not recommended as Sri Lanka’s leading broadcasters have already upgraded to HD TV. The recommended proposal is a full HD TV network, costing $14.5 million and accommodating 24 or more HD TV channels for all locally broadcast stations,” he told The Sunday Times Business in an interview recently.
The comprehensive proposal, which includes HD TV and educational channels, costs $18 million and has a capacity of 24 HD TV channels and 24 SD TV channels dedicated to education, This network would enable uniform education for over 4.5 million students and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities, he added.
Mr. Abeywardana submitted a proposal after reading a Sunday Times article on February 23, 2025, which discussed JICA’s digital TV project. “This proposal has been acknowledged and directed to the government authorities for consideration. As Sri Lanka moves towards digitisation, the government must decide whether to proceed with JICA’s outdated ISDB-T proposal or opt for a locally driven, cutting-edge DVB-T2 solution for $14.5-18 million.”
He emphasised his company’s extensive expertise in digital terrestrial television broadcasting, having operated in the field since 2012. TV Lanka, a licenced broadcaster in Sri Lanka, possesses wide experience in DVB-T2 technology, the globally accepted European-based digital broadcasting standard.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!