VIJAYA COREA is a renowned Broadcaster, Compere and Media Personality in Sri Lanka. Educated at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Vijaya Corea began his career in broadcasting as an Announcer at the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon in the 1960s and became its Chief Executive Officer as Director General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in the 1990s. He became Sri Lanka’s first Television Presenter, when he appeared on Global Television in 1976. Vijaya was recognized by the State with a Gold Award at the National Media Awards in 2007, for his contribution towards uplifting the broadcasting media in Sri Lanka over a long period of time. He is also credited with having successfully engineered and implemented measures that caused a revival of the popularity and success of the SLBC's English Service in the early nineties, during his tenure as Director General of Broadcasting.

Vijaya also served as Director on the Board of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the National Film Corporation and is currently Chairman/Managing Director of the Advertising Agency “Media-9”.

He founded the Thomian Society of Colombo in 1996, of which he is currently the Patron and is an active Rotarian, having served as a Director of the Rotary Club of Colombo. He also served on the Board of Governors of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

Born soon after the the Second World War, he initially lived on his father's estate bungalow in Hokandara. Many decades later, he constructed a Sports Pavilion at Vidyaraja Maha Vidyalaya, Hokandara in 1987, thereby initiating and facilitating inter-schools matches on one of the largest suburban playgrounds. Consequent on his philanthropy, the Faculty of the school named it the "Vijaya Corea Pavilion", as it stands to date.

Vijaya has contributed immensely towards developing the local music industry in Sri Lanka, by identifying and actively promoting talented musicians, some of whom have gained international recognition.

When Vijaya marked 40 years in showbiz, several of the biggest names in showbiz gathered to salute him for his services to music and showbiz, with particular reference to his contribution towards engineering the success of 'Sinhala Pop' against strong opposition and undaunted promotion of new talented artistes.

At the bottom, are some links containing what the following personalities were heard to say on the occasion of the "Grand Salute" held at the BMICH in August 2005, to recognize and appreciate Vijaya's contributions and qualities as a broadcaster, talent promoter and showbiz personality: Brian Fernando and the La Bambas, Dharmaratne Brothers, Damayantha Kuruppu, Lincoln De Silva, Manella Joseph, Gerald Wickremasuriya, Harold Seneviratne, Nimal Mendis, Dalreen Suby, Noeline Honter, Indrani Perera, Annesley Malewana, Gabo Peiris, Dilhani Ekanayake, Aruna Siriwardena, Lucky Dias, Mignonne Ratnam, Susil Fernando, Paul Fernando, Ronnie Leitch, Clarence Wijewardena (an old interview that was screened), Lankika Perera, Geetha Kumarasinghe, B. H. Abdul Hameed, W. D. Amaradeva and Rukshan Perera.

Vijaya became a minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in 1980 and his ministry witnessed the birth of four churches in Sri Lanka and one in Nasik, 300 kilometres West of Bombay, in India. He was healed of cancer without the need for medical treatment (which he was willing to undergo) and has medical records from both Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom in proof of the miraculous nature of his healing, which he attributes to his relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

He married Ranjini Corea (Nee Wickremasinghe) and has a son (Viran Corea) and daughter (Sashika Corea-Mahiman). He has one grandson (Ravale).

Vijaya is the son of Sid and Amybelle Corea and the brother of Gamani Corea, Srimanie Dassanaike and Siva Obeyesekere.