About Virakesari & Express Newspapers Business Structure & Leadership Operational & Editorial Model Management & Profit Features Strategic & Digital Evolution Contact & Corporate HQ
Virakesari, founded on 6 August 1930 by P. P. R. Subramanian Chettiar, is Sri Lanka’s oldest Tamil‑language daily—with a brand ethos built on quality journalism and editorial integrity. Operated by Express Newspapers (Ceylon) Pvt Ltd (est. 1970), the paper is backed by diversified family ownership and a media portfolio of 16 Tamil and English titles.
Express Newspapers is privately owned by leading Tamil business families—Selvanathan, Krishnamoorthy, Nadesan, Gnanam and Soundararajan—aligned through holdings in Fulcrum Ltd, KMK, and South Asian Investments. The Managing Director, Sivakumar Nadesan, is a seasoned media executive and Chair of the Sri Lanka Press Institute. CEO Murugesu Senthilnathan holds an MBA and leads strategic growth and digital innovation.
• Print circulation of approximately 120,000 per day—leading the Tamil segment.
• Virakesari.lk digital platform launched in 2002, with e‑paper service introduced in 2005—the world’s first Tamil newspaper e‑edition.
• Editorial oversight by Editor-in-Chief S. Srikajan; weekly Virakesari led by R. Prabagan. Journalistic standards emphasize independence, credibility, and audience engagement via print, radio, podcasts, and video.
• Revenue streams include subscriptions (print + e‑paper), display and classifieds advertising, sponsorship, and overseas edition exports. • Operating efficiencies from centralized printing, family governance, and cross‑media synergies with sister titles like Daily Express and Vidivelli. • Regional presence extends to Jaffna, Batticaloa, and urban centres, with impactful legacy reporting—including the rise of legendary Jaffna correspondent “Virakesari” Sellathurai and Annalakshmi Rajadurai’s role elevating editorial quality.
The media group has embraced digital-first strategy: upgrading Virakesari.lk for web/mobile, enhancing video content, and leveraging social platforms (X, Facebook). Audience analytics and content personalization help optimize advertising yield and reader retention. Monetization includes targeted banners, native advertising, and premium content access.
• Express Newspapers (Ceylon) Pvt Ltd – No. 185 Grandpass Road, Colombo 14
• Tel: +94 11 732 2700 / +94 11 732 2777
• E‑paper and online subscriptions available via virakesari.lk.
| Accepted Currencies: | Sri Lankan Rupees |
|---|---|
| Payment Types: | Credit Card |
| Mon |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
| Wed |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
| Thu |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
| Fri |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
| Sat |
08:30 AM - 05:30 PM |
| Sun | Closed |
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