Desathiya News Magazine was first published in 1978 with the objective of communicating the reader with academic, economic, literary and local political and contemporary information with responsibility. The magazine was launched on the concept of Dr. Sarath Amunugama, who was Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the time and Mr. Cyril B. Perera was the first editor of the magazine.

At that time, there were no news magazine which gave academic and universal information written in the proper and easy language published in the Sinhala. Therefore, Desathiya magazine was published making a turning point by fulfilling the shortcomings of the Sinhala readers’ society. Leading scholars and other readers of schools and higher education students have been gathered around the magazine for over four decades due to the new
knowledge distributed and the language style. Over the past four decades, many eminent editors have contributed to the promotion of Desathiya.

Although the Internet has become one of the most popular reading mediums with new digital technologies, Desathiya magazine is still gaining popularity as a print publication. This magazine is also available in official websites of the Department of Government Information www.news.lk and www.dgi.gov.lk for online readers. The Department of Government Information has also taken steps to expand the Desathiya Distribution Network covering all Post Offices in Sri Lanka, to facilitate the availability of Desathiya magazine to readers in all parts of the country including remote areas.

Hon Minister of Higher Education Technology, Innovation & Information and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena will be the chief guest and Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena State Minister of Information and Communication Technology will participate in the ceremony. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, who was the pioneer of the Desathiya magazine.