Veteran Journalist Elmo Gunaratna has passed away

Veteran  Journalist and pioneer in Sri Lankan media Elmo Gunaratna has passed away on Saturday due  to complications of Covid-19.

Gunaratna, who was 86 at his death, has a distinguished media history of over 60 years. , was a Presidential Award winner and a forefront media personnel who opened paths for many beginners in the field.

Mr Gunaratna is a recipient of several awards, including the Presidential Award and the Editors’ Guild Long Service to Journalism Award. He later worked as a Senior Adviser to the Education, Transport and Samurdhi and Sports Ministries.

A past pupil of Ananda College, Colombo, Gunaratne began his career as a journalist from Sinhalaya newspaper and was well known for his struggle against the governmentalisation of Lake House in his belief in freedom of journalism. He quit Lake House in protest when it was taken over by the Government in the 1970s.

He served in newspapers including Times of Ceylon, Lankaedepa, Bankok Post, Sunday Times and Daily Mirror. He also served as a senior advisor to the Education Ministry, a senior advisor to the Transport Ministry and a senior advisor to the Samurdhi and Sports Ministry.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has extended his condolences on the demise of senior Journalist Elmo Gunaratna, in a statement issued on Saturday (28)

Damitha Gunaratna, Elmo's eldest son, also passed away a day prior to his demise, leading to bringing a much darker period on the Gunaratna family. His wife, Nandra Dias Gunaratna, predeceased him. He is survived by sons Harsha, Thushara and Rajeeva Gunaratne and several grandchildren.