The Times of Ceylon subsequently started various newspapers using the names of former TOCL publications. The Times of Ceylon The Times of Ceylon was an English language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka published by Times of Ceylon Limited (TOCL). It was founded in 1846 as the Ceylon Times and was published from Colombo. It ceased publication in 1985. The "Ceylon Times" started on 11 July 1846 using the printing press of the defunct "The Ceylon Herald". The newspaper was established to oppose "The Observer" and promote the mercantile interests of British colonials. Initially it was published on Tuesdays and Fridays. In 1858 the paper's
The Illustrated London News Stamp Act that taxed newspapers), it sold 200,000 copies per week. Competitors soon began to appear: "Lloyd’s Illustrated Paper" was founded later that year, while "Reynold's Newspaper" opened in 1850; both were successful Victorian publications, albeit less successful than "The Illustrated London News". Andrew Spottiswoode's "Pictorial Times" lost £20,000 before it was sold to Ingram by Henry Vizetelly, who had left the "ILN" to found it. Ingram folded it into another purchase, "The Lady's Newspaper", which became "The Lady's Newspaper and Pictorial Times". Vizetelly was also behind a later competitor, "Illustrated Times" in 1855, which was similarly bought out by