Sunrise Radio, the world’s first 24-hour commercial Asian radio station, is celebrating 25 years of success this month.

Prime Minister David Cameron chose Sunrise to deliver his Diwali 2014 wishes and has this week sent his congratulations to the pioneering Asian radio service.

Now based in Southall, the station was set up in 1989 by Avtar Lit and currently has 259,000 listeners across London beating all the commercial competitors as well as the BBC’s Asian Network.

By 2009, Dr Avtar Lit had opened 17 radio stations around the UK and five in Sri Lanka with the The Sunday Times valuing the global operations of Sunrise Radio at £50million.

The founder’s son, Tony Lit, who is now the managing director, said: “Sunrise gave a voice to Asians in Britain at a time when there was no media outlet catering for ethnic minorities at all. The station most certainly paved the way for the evolution of media in Britain to become culturally diverse. For the first time it also gave entrepreneurial Asian families somewhere to advertise their businesses. Prior to Sunrise, Asian traders relied on word of mouth as there was no specific arena to advertise, but Sunrise changed that.

“Sunrise Radio opened up the market and created a domino effect of other Asian-specific broadcasters/media outlets opening up, not just in the UK, but in India and Sri Lanka, making it something of a global phenomenon.

“Throughout the last 25 years we have constantly reinvented the station to move with the times and cater for the changing needs of our ever growing audience. We have had our ups and downs, but 25 years later we are as strong as ever and here to stay. Here’s to the next 25 years.”

Priti Patel MP will be hosting the 25th anniversary celebrations at the House of Commons on November 18.

David Cameron prepared a special 25th anniversary message, which was broadcast on November 5 saying: “Let me congratulate Sunrise on a fantastic 25 years of broadcasting.

“This station was a real pioneer of its time. The very first independent radio station to cater specifically for Britain’s Asian community. And I know the station’s played a really important role in helping British Asians to get on with their lives here, whilst maintaining a real connection to their roots, their tradition and their heritage.

“So congratulations Sunrise and best of luck for the next 25 years.”

According to RAJAR figures, Sunrise Radio remains the UK’s number one South Asian commercial radio station.

To mark 25 years, Chairman of Sunrise Radio Gurdev Jassi has launched Sunrise Radio Presenters Academy, a free training scheme for those wanting to pursue a career in radio to get experience alongside professionals. An intensive programme for on-air training can last up to two weeks.