Veteran journalist Sunil Madhawa Prematilake passes away

Veteran journalist Sunil Madhawa Prematilake passed away yesterday (February 23), at the age of 78.

He died after being admitted to the Thalangama regional hospital last evening. The remains will be taken to his residence in Koswatta tomorrow.

The final rites of Prematilake are scheduled to be performed on Saturday (February 26).

Born on 12 May, 1944, Prematilake was the son of former main editor of Silumina newspaper, Meemana Prematilake. He was schooled at the Ananda College in Colombo.

Prematilake embarked on his journey to become a newspaper journalist by joining the Silumina newspaper of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), also known as Lake House in 1963.

He later joined ‘Janatha’ newspaper which was then considered a revolutionary print.

Prematilake has composed numerous articles to Lakmina, Lakdiva, and Hiru newspapers against the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection. 

He also penned many books including Satyawadiyekuge Dinapotha (dubbed ‘the diary of a truth-telling person’), Andhakaaraye Daruwa, Handanu Mena Nidahasa, Shreshtayaa, Sebe Kaviyekuge Kathawa.