Times Online

Sri Lankans can now buy digital music and movies from Apple’s iTunes Store, the Malaysian Insider reported.

Music and movies are a new addition to the iTunes Store for 12 countries in Asia, which include Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Users in these markets could only download and purchase apps from the iTunes Store previously.

Now they can buy a song for up to S$1.28 rent a movie for S$4.98 or buy a high-definition movie for up to S$24.98 via the iTunes application on their computers or devices such as the Apple iPhone or iPad.

The iPhone-maker is also putting a spotlight on popular musicians from Asia on the online store. Rumours of Apple rolling out music and movies for more Asian countries were first reported on technology startup website e27 last week. The website noted that it “received a tip off from a trusted source in the industry that Apple is planning a secret launch event” on June 27 in Hong Kong.

Movies and music in the iTunes Store were available in 50 countries previously. However, the availability of television shows on it remain limited to countries like the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada.

Seen below is a file photo of Steven Jobs in 2006 stands in front of a high resolution screen of the itunes music and movies download page. Reuters