Audience by language
| Language | Approx. speakers | Buying-power profile |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhala | ~16M (≈75%) | Broad mass market across the country |
| Tamil | ~3.5M (≈15%) | Strong concentration in North, East and up-country |
| English | ~2M fluent (≈10%) | Highest disposable income, urban-skewed |
Which channel speaks which language
- Television: most channels are Sinhala-dominant, with dedicated Tamil and English-language slots
- Radio: split by station — choose by the audience map for your target district
- Newspapers: each major language has its own leading dailies and weekend titles
- Digital: English carries a higher CPM but a higher average order value; Sinhala is the cheapest reach; Tamil is often the most underpriced opportunity
CPM comparison on social (2025)
| Creative language | Average CPM (LKR) |
|---|---|
| Sinhala | 90–160 |
| Tamil | 70–130 |
| English | 180–320 |
Rules of thumb
- Mass FMCG: Sinhala primary, Tamil secondary
- Premium, luxury or B2B: English primary, Sinhala used for trust signals
- Campaigns in North and East: Tamil first, always
- Up-country tea estate communities: Tamil dominant
Bilingual creatives (for example Sinhala voice-over with English overlay text) often outperform monolingual versions for aspirational and premium brands.
See our full pricing, sizes and booking process on the advertising service page.