UVA Community Radio: A Historical Perspective
Abstract
grassroots people through their voices and strengthen them in Sri Lanka. This research investigates about the history of Uva community radio and its steps of growthen with the challenges. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether Uva Community Radio functions as a complete community radio station by broadcasting the voices of oppressed people from the upcountry region. This study has been followed as quantitative and qualitative research with the ten operational definitons which were identified as the parameters for operating as the voice of the voiceless, which include working on a non-profit basis, expressing local language and identity, having various social programs, accommodating minority groups, improving the educational knowledge of the community, promoting good governance, communicating local culture, participating in regional development, and operating independently. The study concludes that Uva Community Radio was established to bring the voices of marginalized people in Uva Province to the forefront. However, its programming has been adapted to include more entertainment-focused content, leading to its departure from being a complete community radio station. Additionally, the study identified challenges faced by Uva Community radio, including a lack of funding, insufficient technical equipment resources, political interference, a lack of human resources for field trips, and a change in frequency. Further, the study concludes that Uva Community radio fully operated as a community radio station during its first ten years of operation, but after 2013, it was separated from being a complete community radio station. The programming on Saturdays has more community radio characteristics, while programming on Tuesdays has the least.
