📼 VHS Beginnings
When VHS arrived in Sri Lanka, our family had a player at home. At Nawala junction stood Molta Video Center, a place that didn’t usually lend tapes to kids. Luckily, we knew the person there, so rules bent in our favor. The real challenge was money — 10 or 15 rupees per tape for two days. We’d pool coins from friends or hunt for leftovers at home. Sometimes tapes got jammed and ruined. Our fix? Cut the damaged part, patch it with selotape, rewind, and return it to the shop as if nothing happened. Another legendary spot was Marathon in Nugegoda, one of the most popular VHS rental centers of the time.
💿 The Rise of CD Libraries
By the late 90s, CD lending libraries popped up around Colombo. I had memberships at three of them — and still keep one of those cards today. We rented CD‑ROM games and VCD movies, and when returning, staff would carefully flip the discs to check for scratches. It was a new ritual, replacing the rewinding of tapes with the inspection of shiny discs.
🏬 Unity Plaza Adventures
Unity Plaza became the hub for CD games, movies, and MP3 compilations. After office hours, we’d walk there to hunt for the latest arrivals. The thrill of discovery was unmatched — every visit promised something new to take home.
🛣️ Hidden Fort Hunts
Colombo’s Pitakotuwa (Fort) was another treasure trove. Hidden alleys led to disk distributors selling bulk DVDs. We’d assemble our own movie packages: disc, printed cover, and plastic case. Posters lined the walls, meant only for shop displays, but with persistence and friendship, we managed to take some home. Those posters became part of our shrine of cinematic memories.
🌐 The Internet Shift
As the internet became mainstream, these rituals faded. VHS rentals, CD libraries, and DVD hunts vanished almost overnight. Yet the memories remain — of pooling coins, patching tapes, walking to Unity Plaza, and assembling DVDs by hand. They were more than formats; they were adventures, friendships, and the joy of discovery.
VHS and CDs weren’t just media. They were gateways to adventure, discovery, and cultural connection.