The Artistic Creator of the Batapola Antenna
by Godage Sarath
“Some people suggest I should take legal action against those who copy my design and manufacture antennas. However, I am content, knowing that my invention provides a livelihood for many,” says none other than the creator of the renowned Batapola antenna, known to Sri Lankans by name alone: Pathmalal Malavige. Today, he lives in peaceful retirement in Mahawatta, Batapola, Galle, having spent his career as an art teacher.
When discussing television antennas, the town of Batapola has become well-known across the island. The story dates back about four decades. When I met Mr. Pathmananda Malavige at his home in Mahawatta, he nostalgically recounted the history of television antennas. “I always had a natural talent for creating artistic designs, and I could draw well too. During the 1971 insurrection, I was taken into custody on suspicion of having designed those posters and spent about a year in the Welikada Magazine Prison. During that time, I learned various creative skills. While in remand, we were given only a small portion of rice on a metal plate. I came up with a way to get more food. I hammered the plate into a bowl, which held a larger portion, which was enough to fill my stomach. That was my first creation.” After being released from prison, I enrolled in a beauty course at the Heywood Institute and started working as a teacher in 1976. Back then, there were no TVs, only radios, which also required antennas. My elder brother was skilled in technical work, so people often came to us to fix their radio antennas. I developed a certain understanding of antennas because of this experience. Once television arrived, antennas became essential for receiving broadcasts.
In the early days, a TV required two antennas, one about seven or eight feet long. When we went to install these antennas, we encountered various challenges. This gave me the idea to design a simpler television antenna.
At the time, I was teaching at the Ampagama Maha Vidyalaya in Galle. I also received guidance on making the antenna from the school’s science teacher, Nihal Gurusinghe, who taught me the necessary science. Following his advice, I built a simple two-rod antenna that delivered clear TV images to the Batapola area. There was no way to check if it worked in other areas. I didn’t have the financial resources to travel across the country, so I made use of school field trips with the students, obtaining special permission from the education office to bring along a TV and an antenna on the bus. Over three days, we went on educational trips and checked my antenna in different areas, like Angathota, making adjustments along the way. In this manner, we traveled almost across the entire country, except for Jaffna, to see if the antenna worked and to fine-tune it for visibility throughout the island.
Gradually, as my antenna became popular, people began stealing them, partly because it didn’t need to be mounted very high, making it easier for thieves. Eventually, a homeowner caught a thief stealing my antenna, leading to a police complaint and a court case. I had to attend court as a witness, which garnered significant publicity. Even some lawyers wanted to purchase my antenna, and eventually, the judge himself bought one. After that, antenna thefts decreased.
Now, I am retired and have two daughters and a son, all of whom are skilled at making antennas. Although my eldest daughter holds a degree, she does not have a regular job. Instead, she has now turned my antenna production into a business.
When I applied for a patent for my invention, they said they couldn’t issue it under the Batapola name. Eventually, the patent was granted solely for the antenna’s shape. Consequently, others changed the design slightly and copied my circuit to create their own antennas. Despite the competition, the Batapola Plexi Antenna still holds strong demand. Currently, I produce about a hundred antennas each month, and my daughter produces two to three times that amount.
At the end of our conversation, the pioneer of the Batapola antenna business concluded with a joyful smile. As we bid him farewell, we reflected on the countless inventors like him that the country could benefit from.
