Veteran journalist Sunil Madhawa Prematilake passed away on Wednesday (February 23), at the age of 78. His funeral took place at Thalahena cemetery yesterday evening.
Born on May 12, 1944, Prematilake was the son of former Chief Editor of the Silumina newspaper and a great poet of the Colombo era, Meemana Prematilake.
Premathilake who always moved his pen for social justice became a voice for the voiceless in the country. An old boy of Ananda College, Colombo, he embarked on his journey to become a newspaper journalist by joining the Silumina newspaper of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) in 1963. He later joined Janatha newspaper which was then considered a revolutionary print.
Premathilaka was a journalist as well as an author who revolutionised the traditional journalism of the country. He has mentored hundreds of budding journalists. One of his most popular works was the Satyawadiyekuge Dinapotha (the Diary of a Truth-Seeker). He has composed numerous articles for Lakmina, Lakdiva and Hiru newspapers on the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection. He also penned many books including the Diary of a Truth-Seeker, Andhakaaraye Daruwa, Handanu Mena Nidahasa, Shreshtayaa, Sebe Kaviyekuge Kathawa. In addition, he has translated several books, including Crying for Literary Freedom, America America, Carolina’s Diary and Mohamed Ali. He was recently awarded the ‘Kalabhushana’ State Award.