Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) Sinhala Service marked its Golden Jubilee on November 7, celebrating five decades of proclaiming the Gospel, nurturing faith and accompanying the people of Sri Lanka through Catholic communication.
Addressing the jubilee celebration at Good Shepherd’s Convent in Kandy, central Sri Lanka, Fr. John Mi Shen, RVA Program Director and Executive Secretary of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) Office of Social Communication, described the Sinhala Service’s 50-year journey as part of the wider history and missionary mission of RVA and the Church in Asia.
“Your fifty years of mission are not only the history of the Sinhala Service; they are part of the history and mission of Radio Veritas Asia and the Church in Asia,” he said.
The celebration brought together Church dignitaries, clergy, religious, members of the Sinhala Service team and other guests to give thanks for the service’s contribution to the Church and its listeners. The program included the unveiling of the jubilee logo and song, and a documentary tracing the history of the Sinhala Service.
Traditional and ballet dance performances, musical presentations, the awarding of certificates, jubilee greetings and tokens of appreciation also formed part of the celebration.
In his address, Fr. Mi Shen recalled the historical connection between the Sinhala and Mandarin services, which began their journeys in June and August 1976, respectively.
Despite their different languages and cultural contexts, both services emerged from the same missionary vision of bringing the Gospel to the peoples of Asia.
He also recalled the story of Archbishop Gomez of Colombo, who, as a young priest, was reportedly sent by RVA to China to test Mandarin broadcasts during a difficult period.
For Fr. Mi Shen, the episode illustrated how RVA’s missionary vision transcended geographical boundaries, national identities and linguistic differences.
“We may speak different languages, but we are united by one faith and one mission,” he said, describing the Sinhala and Mandarin services as members of one missionary family.
Reflecting on five decades of service, Fr. Mi Shen John urged the community not to measure its achievements merely through broadcasting hours, programs or audience numbers, but through the lives touched by its communication.
He recalled how radio programs had brought comfort to people experiencing loneliness and suffering, strengthened families in faith and encouraged listeners struggling with their religious journeys.
“Our mission is not simply to broadcast programs. Our mission is to touch hearts, build relationships, accompany people, and communicate Christ,” he said.
Looking ahead, Fr. Mi Shen acknowledged the transformation of the media landscape since the Sinhala Service began in 1976, when radio was among the most effective means of reaching people across geographical boundaries.
With audiences increasingly accessing information through smartphones, social media, podcasts and videos, he called on the service to preserve its linguistic and cultural richness while exploring digital platforms to reach younger generations.
“Technology will change. Platforms will come and go. But our mission remains the same,” he said.
He also emphasized collaboration among RVA’s language services, encouraging them to share experiences, learn from one another and build a stronger Asian communication network.
“The experiences of the Sinhala Service can inspire the Mandarin Service. The Mandarin Service can learn from the Sinhala Service,” he said, adding that linguistic and cultural diversity was one of the Church’s greatest strengths.
As RVA prepares for its 60th anniversary in 2029, Fr. Mi Shen invited the Sinhala Service to see the Golden Jubilee not merely as a celebration of its past but as an opportunity to renew its missionary commitment and prepare the next generation.
“Fifty years of faith. Fifty years of service. One mission, one RVA family,” he said, congratulating the Sinhala Service and calling for renewed passion and creativity in proclaiming Christ and bringing hope to the people of 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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