Gamini Weerakoon
Born
Ceylon
Died11 November 2023
EducationS. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Occupation(s)editor, journalist

Gamini Weerakoon (died 11 November 2023) was a Sri Lankan journalist and newspaper editor. He was a founder member of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka. He was regarded as one of the most influential journalists in Sri Lanka.[1][2]

Career

Weerakoon pursued his primary and secondary education at the St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. He initially entered the Science Faculty of the University of Ceylon for his Higher education.[3] He was later transferred to the Law Faculty of the University of Ceylon. However, he did not fully complete his undergraduate studies as he decided to join the Lake House (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon) in the mid-1960s.[3] He began his career in journalism in contrast to the subject faculty he had chosen at the University of Ceylon.

One of the prominent editors of that time, Denzil Peiris, recruited Gamini Weerakoon as the news editor for The Observer.[3] He was invited to take up the position as the news editor of The Island during the inauguration of the Island newspapers, which was launched by prominent business tycoon Upali Wijewardene in 1981.[4] He was promoted as the deputy editor of The Island in 1985.[5]

Weerakoon also worked as a consultant editor for The Sunday Leader for a brief stint. During his stint with The Sunday Leader, he was predominantly engaged in commenting about world affairs on a daily basis, and he also wrote a weekly column about world affairs for the newspaper.[3] He also joined The Sunday Times as a newspaper editor and wrote weekly columns under the title 'Double speak'. He received a Special Award during the 2003 Sri Lanka Journalism Awards for Excellence which was organised by the Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka at the Empire Ballroom of the Mount Lavinia Hotel.[6]

Death

Weerakoon died on 11 November 2023. His remains were kept for public viewing at A.F. Raymonds Funeral Parlour. His body was cremated on 12 November, at the Borella Public Cemetery.[3][7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Guardian, Sri Lanka (11 November 2023). "Remembering Gamini Weerakoon: A Colossus in Sri Lankan Media – Sri Lanka Guardian". slguardian.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Abeykoon, Gayan (12 November 2023). "Stop Press!". DailyNews. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Veteran editor Gamini Weerakoon passes away". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ↑ malinga (11 November 2023). "Veteran Editor Gamini Weerakoon passes away". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Walpola, Thilina (13 November 2023). "Gamini Weerakoon, a reporter's delight". Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Five eminent journalists honoured". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Priyan (11 November 2023). "Former Editor of The Island Gamini Weerakoon no more". Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Abeykoon, Gayan (12 November 2023). "Funeral of former Sunday Island Editor Gamini Weerakoon held". DailyNews. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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