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Started broadcasting on 15th June 1993 the first private radio channel in Sri Lanka under the license granted to then Managing Director the late kalasuri Mr.Livy.R. Wijemanne. Comprising of all 3 languages on the same channel.

The channel’s English broadcast covered many a genre of music from pop, jazz, country, oldies etc. Featuring some popular announcers from SLBC and FM99 also brought out the vocal talents of many new radio personalities who now have matured to be some of the best in the industry today.

Sinhala broadcast highlighted many of the 60’s 70’s ,80’s & 90’s music also giving chances to budding new talent as well. While the shows were hosted by many popular personalities.

The Tamil broadcast was also on a similar rotation with many interviews covered as well with some eminent personalities.

FM99 studios was located at the Colombo Marriott hotel now the Galadari. on the second floor, the full office complex was a total of 5 rooms including the transmission area as well.

FM99 was shut down on the 31st of January 1996 for separation of it’s mediums, but whatever anyone might say history speaks for it self so truly FM99 IS THE FIRST PRIVATE RADIO STATION.

THIS WEB PAGE  IS CREATED IN HONOUR OF THE LATE KALASURI.LIVY.R.WIJEMANNE FOR ALL HIS SERVICES RENDERED TO BROADCASTING AT SLBC AND MAINLY FOR BEING INSTUMENTAL OF STARTING THE FIRST PRIVATE RADIO CHANNEL IN SRI LANKA MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

TECHNOLOGY:

Studio equipment comprised of Audio Technica & Seneheisser Microphones, Otari Dat & Spool Machines, Tascam CD Players, It Cartridge Machines & Studio 12 Broadcast Quality Mixers. Something noteworthy mentioning is that Dat Tapes (Digital Audio Tapes) something new at the time was first used for broadcasting at FM99.

TRANSMISSION:

This was done with State of the art Harris (3.5KW) Valve Transmitters ably assisted by CRL Processors. The radius covered was around 70-80km, also reaching some parts of Kandy & Nuwara Eliya and many other distant pocket area’s as well.

JINGLES:

The first station to use jingles that was sung & produced locally. They were sung by non other than ex member of the Jet Liner’s Ms. Minogne Rathnam and the recording was engineered by Lal Dissanayake at his studio’s.

Listen to jingle sung by Mignone Fernando: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmilrbsQREo 

English Ms.Ruki De Mel (Programmes Manager)/ Rizani Aziz (Programme Manager)

Presenters Noeline Honter(SLBC/SLRC), Dammi Fernando, Nazreen Jurangpathy, Ravin Daniel, Mahes Perera(SLBC), Arun Dias Bandaranayake(SLBC), Eric Fernando(SLBC), Ravi John(Late)(SLBC), Sharmini Serasinghe(SLRC), Ajitha Kadiragama(SLRC), Feroz Billimoria, Imran Pakir Saibo, Viran De Silva(DJ), Kapila Mohotti(DJ), Shehan Seneviratne, Sohan Weerasinghe(Musician), Lua Buultjens, Rajitha Jayasuriya, Dhilshika Jayamaha, Hasini Halpe,Stefan Grey, Faraz Deen,Samitha Heenkanda,Marlon Jansen,Tariq Mahushukeen, Savithri Rodrigo (News), Dyan Candappa (News),Viran Corea(News)

Techinical / Production Officers Dr.Shanthi.De Fonseka(Consultant Engineer),Benildus Perera(Chief Engineer), Shantha Ponnamperuma, Ricky Sellar, Laxman Colonne, Arambawala, Mohan Mallawarachchi,, Saman Munasinghe, Warren Nicholas, Stuart Bernadus, Ricardo Pereira, Gerard Fernando, Priyantha Fernando,D.C.Wickramarachchi. 

Maintainance of Transmitters Mr.Sunil Koddithuwakku (Late)

Outside Broadcast (OB):

The First one of it’s kind on private radio was done by FM99 for when the British band reputed for hits like

• I’m Doing Fine Now

• Tribute (Right On)

The Pasedena’s was brought down to Sri Lanka by the Hotel Marriott’s night club Valentino’s from which the live broadcast was beamed on the 99mhz frequency for a period of 75 minutes. There by creating history as well.