Sri Lanka officially initiated engineering consultancy services for the technical implementation of the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) project on Monday (9), marking the beginning of the country’s long-anticipated transition from its 46-year-old analog terrestrial broadcasting system to a unified digital platform.
The launch event took place at the Health and Mass Media Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Addressing the gathering, the Minister highlighted that the commencement of DTTB technology operations is not only a transformative step for Sri Lanka’s broadcasting landscape but also a significant stride in advancing the nation’s broader digital economy. He noted that the project, delayed for over a decade due to various reasons, has now been expedited as part of a renewed commitment to modernising telecommunications infrastructure.
The Minister emphasized that the DTTB initiative underscores the longstanding friendship and technical cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka, as Japanese engineering consultants have joined hands with local experts to carry out the project. A key feature of the project is the establishment of a state-of-the-art 4K digital studio complex for the Sri Lanka Television Corporation, representing a major upgrade in national broadcasting capabilities.
With this digital migration, Sri Lankan viewers will benefit from high-definition (HD) picture quality, and broadcasters will enjoy more efficient operations thanks to the enhanced spectral efficiency of digital systems. The upgrade will also allow for more television channels to be transmitted within the same frequency spectrum.
Moreover, the shift to digital broadcasting frees up valuable spectrum—particularly in the 700MHz band—which can now be redirected to support the rollout of 5G technology and improve broadband internet access, especially in rural areas.
DTTB Project Director, Eng. Prasanga Rajapaksa, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project, outlining its strategic importance to the future of broadcasting in Sri Lanka and reaffirming the government’s commitment to driving digital transformation across the media and communications sectors.
