The creation of a national television service was planned several times as far back as 1965 (Ceylon at the time), when then-Minister of State J. R. Jayawardene suggested its creation, but was rejected by Dudley Senanayake's government, whose media advisors led by Neville Jayaweera called television "a gift of a rhinoceros".

Rupavahini began broadcasting on 15 February 1982, one day after it was established, with an opening speech from J. R. Jayewardene, Sri Lanka's president at the time.

[7] One of the initial aims of the corporation was to broadcast educational programmes for 500 schools by offering free sets to classrooms, under the principle that television was to be used as an aid for the teacher.

[2] Early in its existence, Rupavahini could be received well, depending on weather conditions, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

[8] Rupavahini's popularity led to the purchase of colour television sets in southern India, before the rest of the country started regular services.

[9] Per a 1984 government order, Rupavahini reduced the power of its transmitters as the channel didn't compensate its audience in India via overspill by attracting Indian advertisers.

Viewer preference in India continued even after Doordarshan implemented its colour service - its foreign programmes were also attractive.

[10] In 1986, Rupavahini expanded its facilities and, in 1998, rehabilitated most of the original equipment using digital technology under three grant aid projects from the Government of Japan.

In the 80s and 90s, Rupavahini aired a number of dubbed cartoons led by Titus Thotawatte, the most remarkable titles being Bugs Bunny (Ha Ha Hari Hawa, Doctor Dolittle (Dosthara Honda Hitha) and Top Cat (Pissu Pusa).

Also, the channel telecast the first Korean drama to air in the country called Sujatha Diyani also known as Dae Jang Geum, in November 2012.

From its launch in 1982 to the conversion to HD in November 2022, Rupavahini has used a slightly modified version of the German Telefunken FuBK colour test card during non-broadcast hours.

After a parliament act, the licence fee was scrapped and the funding of Rupavahini was changed to a system of government grants supplemented with TV advertising.

The logo was designed by artist and painter Bandula Peiris, and was drawn in the Sinhala art style of Tirigitalaya.

The bottom of the message contains an easter egg, which, if rotated, reveals Bandula's initial, "බ", in square format.

[20] In the early years, the station's starting animation consisted of the line drawing of the bird and an aerial shot of the facilities.

[21] At start-up, a slide (static until the conversion to widescreen) with the Rupavahini logo appears, accompanied by an instrumental rendition of Kawurudo ara Kawuluwen by singer-songwriter Sanath Nandasiri.

[27] At 1:31pm the channel was temporarily taken off the air and did an improvised closedown, by playing the usual routine: the Rupavahini ID, the nightly end of transmission video and the national anthem.