SIYELI HANDA

ABOUT SIYELI HANDA

6th June 2013 was an historic  day to no.45,Kynsey Road Colombo 8.The Archdiocesan Social Communication Centre was a great feat of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray,in mid 60s.After the second Vatican Council.Where ever he put his hand into, the end  was a great feat.Because he was so great!

His eminence was a communicator to the core.He knew the validity and the length and the breadth of this massive empire.He finished constructing  the hollow edifice.And entrusted to draw up the blue print for a professional sound studio to a broadcaster who had inborn talent to do great things either before the studio michraphone or the tv camera.He was comly so was his soothing voice.He could not accomplish the task God decided otherwise.That was Fr.Joe Nettesinghe.

His eminence Cardinal Cooray who was the initiater and the prime mover of Radio Veritas which has chalked up over 40 years to date,was contemplating entrusting Radio Veritas to Fr.Joe Neth but the Cardinal changes his stratagy and identifies a another creative and a capable young priest to continue from the point his predecessor halted.To design a modern studio in those dark hollow spaces was not an easy task.He was new to the task.Yes! weeks and months passed by, the edifice changed in its soul.Fully eqipped audio Studio comes to be.adorned with the latest swedish Studer equipment the latest and the best.Fr.Rufus christened the social  communications centre as JOENETH  STUDIO  in  undying memory to a great broadcaster of the catholic  Church.Now it was time to find a capable technician to work on the brand new equipment to meet musicians to work with them to mix and edit the music renderings and to come up with the final product.Fr.Rufus went in search of a technician for the future .Donald Ivan a rustic young lad who was putting his hands in to motor winding and other areas of the Radio Lab at Kotahena .The eyes fell on thislad.The question was, could he be a suitable candidate for the  task? Fr.Ignatius Perera can not make a mistake.He was a wizard  in the technical field, things so nicely clicked and he said  he is the man.In no time JoeNeth popularly known then  as 'BISHOPS' became a household name.It grew up that fast that to get a date for a recording at that time, the client had to be in the waiting list for over three months.No doubt that  we were on  top most rung.

 His Grace the Archbishop Dr.Nicholas Marcus too was on the alert of the happenings in the media world and his responses were well accepted. and his contribution towards Church Communications must be appraised.Working with him was very pleasant and and rewarding.In his retirement in that beautiful and serene setting under the shadow  of the Basilia I am sure with so many pleasant memories Social communications centre too has a place.

His Grace the Archbishop Dr.Oswald Gomis has carved a niche in the  edifice of Church Communications localy and in Asia..His clarity in communication has earned so much honour and prestige to the local Church.His pioneering involvement i n Radio Veritas has enabled for it  to march forward with durability.It should be noted here that during his tenure as Archbishop of Colombo the investments made were for the development of the studiosWe are ever so grateful for these.

I must admit that I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Fr.Rufus Benedict my guru who showed me the way.After my first  tenure of office Very Rev.Fr.Cyril Gamini becomes the Director and did shine as a media professional.So is he today. Fr.Sriyananda Fernando succeeds Fr.Gamini.A bundle of talent simple and unassuming.His musical talent enabled him to put his mark in the arena of communications.

Today we have arrived at a crtical era.The media that we were accustomed to see and hear is fast disappearing.Olden day categories the nomenclature are outdated.New technologies have taken over from all sides. Media has taken a commandeering position in many areas.We cannot compromise today. We have been  necessitatd to face the brunt of it. And respond fairly and squarely.The social media  is revolusionising the entire world.

If I may turn to our Communications centre,as far back as 1972 our studio had mono system In 80s we switched on to Stereo system,Now it is digital and more.There is so much of competetion and new modes of communication.The Church has to manage her affairs beign in the   thick of this scenario.Our approach has to be professional and well established.

It is at this juncture His eminence Malcolm Card.Ranjith threw the challenge to us who are in the field of communications and directed us to see to the feasibility of a Catholic Radio Station to start with.Our request was made to the higher authorities but it was  of no avail.While we pursue this we thought that we  shall embark on an online radio joined to our website since time was running out.

 On the 6th.June 2013 we entered  in to the cyber space.His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was the chief Guest and Mr.Hudsan Samarasinghe was the guest of honour.Bishops Emmanuel Fernando and Maxwel Silva were in attendance with a number of priests and other distinguished visitors.

After the lighting of the traditional oil lamp His eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith garlanded  the photograph of  His eminence Thomas Card.Cooray and floral tribute paid to FrsJoe Neththasnghe Rufus Benedict. All the guests visited the studios and gathered near the mini studio named after  Thomas Cardinal  Cooray for the solemn opening.The online      radio  Was launched after.