Swarnavahini

Swarnawahini (Sinhala: ස්වර්ණවාහිනී; literally Golden Channel) is a Sinhala language general entertainment and news television channel in Sri Lanka owned by EAP Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of EAP Holdings. Launched in 1994 as ETV (Extra Terrestrial Vision), it was one of Sri Lanka's first privately owned television channels.[1] Its sister channel ETV 2 was launched in 1995 when ETV was re-branded ETV 1.[1] The channel's owner Extra Terrestrial Vision (Private) Limited, who had been incorporated on 6 July 1992, changed its name to EAP Network (Private) Limited on 30 April 1996 following the acquisition by EAP.[2] At that time ETV 1 was re-broadcasting BBC.[3] ETV 1 was re-launched as Swarnavahini, a mass market Sinhala language channel, on 16 March 1997.[3][4] EAP Network (Private) Limited changed its name to EAP Broadcasting Company (Private) Limited on 16 May 2012, EAP Network (Private) Limited on 31 October 2012, EAP Network Limited on 28 August 2013 and EAP Broadcasting Company Limited on 11 September 2013.[2]

Swarnavahini is available on free-to-air on analogue terrestrial transmission via UHF channels 35/40 in the Badulla area, UHF channel 31 in the Colombo area, UHF channels 22/40 in the Kandy area, UHF channel 37 in the Matale area, UHF channel 37 in the Matara area, UHF channel 33 in the Nuwara Eliya area and UHF channel 22 in the Ratnapura area.[5] It is available via satellite on Dialog TV (channel 7) and Dish TV (channel 2516).[6][7][8] It is also available on Lanka Broadband Networks cable TV and PEO TV IPTV (channel 6).[9][10]

The popular news reading program Mul Pituwa presented by journalist Bandula Padmakumara successfully aired its 1000th program on 30 March 2006.[11]