Radio Veritas Asia’s (RVA) Sinhala Service was urged to build on its five-decade legacy while embracing digital platforms and new ways of reaching younger generations as it celebrated its golden jubilee in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Addressing the 50th anniversary celebration at Good Shepherd’s Convent in Kandy, Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD, General Manager of RVA, said the anniversary was both an occasion to honor the pioneers and an opportunity to renew the service’s commitment to its future mission.
“When Radio Veritas Asia was first conceptualized, Sinhala was among its pioneering broadcast services. Your service has been part of RVA’s story from the beginning,” he said.
The Sinhala Service began in June 1976, becoming one of the earliest language services of RVA, the Catholic Church’s pan-Asian media ministry. Its golden jubilee coincides with that of the Mandarin Service, which also marks 50 years this year, reflecting RVA’s longstanding commitment to communicating the Gospel across Asia through local languages.
Fr. Fiel acknowledged the dedication and sacrifices of generations of personnel who sustained the Sinhala Service through changing circumstances, bringing news, faith, hope and companionship to Sinhala-speaking communities.
He particularly highlighted the opportunities offered by digitalization, describing the service’s renewed presence in Sri Lanka through digital platforms as a significant development in its relationship with listeners.
“With digitalization, the Sinhala Service returns to your beautiful country and serves your people right where they are: a meaningful grace to be closer to your listeners,” he said.
He encouraged the team to preserve the legacy of the past while adapting to changing communication environments and finding new ways to engage younger audiences.
His message also placed the jubilee within RVA’s wider institutional journey toward its 60th anniversary in 2029. Recently launched, the RVA@60 initiative seeks to build on the foundations established by its pioneers while reimagining the organization's mission in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Fr. Fiel emphasized that the Sinhala Service has an essential role in this journey, as RVA continues to explore new ways of reaching communities while remaining faithful to its mission of serving the Church in Asia.
The golden jubilee celebration brought together Church dignitaries, clergy, religious, members of the Sinhala Service team and other guests. The program included the lighting of the traditional oil lamp, the national anthem, prayers, the unveiling of the jubilee logo and song, a documentary presentation, cultural performances, and the presentation of certificates and tokens of appreciation.
Congratulating the Sinhala Service, Fr. Fiel expressed gratitude for its continued contribution to RVA and the communities it serves.
“May this golden anniversary renew your pride in the past, your joy in the present, and your courage for the years ahead,” he said.
The celebration marked not only 50 years of Sinhala-language service but also a renewed commitment to accompany its people through the changing landscape of communication in Asia.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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