If there is one name that is synonymous with the media (especially print journalism) in Sri Lanka, it is Edwin Ariyadasa, who turned 94 yesterday. The doyen of journalism in Sri Lanka, Kala Keerthi
Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa has been in the field since March 1949, when he joined Lake House, the Home of Newspapers (Pattara Maha Gedara).
Retirement was never an option for the energetic Ariyadasa, who continues his media work to this day as a journalist, author, book editor TV personality, journalism trainer, media consultant and translator. He has contributed much to the newspaper and media world in both Sinhala and English for nearly seven decades in addition to authoring many books and educating print and electronic journalists. He is also known as a media personality who has made many television appearances on issues relating to the media.
It was insurance’s loss and media’s gain as he opted to join Lake House after leaving his job at the General Insurance Company. His first job, however, was as a teacher at Mahinda College, Galle, his alma mater. Having obtained a degree in Sinhala and English languages by 1948, he felt it would be much better if he joined journalism to take advantage of his language skills. He realised this dream in 1949.
Although the founder of Lake House D.R. Wijewardene would pass away just one year later, Edwin Ariyadasa was inspired by Wijewardene and the leading veteran journalists of the day to take to journalism with zest and panache. The facilities available to journalists then were far inferior to what modern journalists have, from voice reorders to digital cameras. Yet, the young Ariyadasa was determined to stay on course.
Ariyadasa’s fluency in both languages proved to be music to the ears of Lake House editors and the management who employed him in practically every Lake House newspaper in the ANCL group. He was in the staff of Silumina, Dinamina, Daily News and Sunday Observer at various stages of his illustrious career. He also worked for the Janatha, an evening publication that has since folded (like all the evening newspapers in Sri Lanka). As Editor-in-Chief of the Nava Yugaya (New Era), he made it virtually a mini-university through which children and even adults could learn about new discoveries and new things in those pre-Internet days. Incidentally, Ariyadasa is credited with coining the Sinhala term “Antharjalaya” for the Internet and even predicted the digital future of newspapers in one of his 17,000 informative articles in both languages. “Sajivikaranaya” (animation) was another term he invented and term remains popular in the TV industry.
After leaving Lake House, he worked for the Divaina newspaper for a brief period. He still regularly contributes articles on various pertinent issues to the Sunday Observer, which he credits with moulding his future as a skilled journalist. His academic background and journalism experience propelled him to take a keen interest in journalism education – he was instrumental in drafting the first Mass Communications syllabus of the University of Kelaniya and launching media studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
He has earned a reputation as first-rate journalism educator and many of today’s top journalists have been his students. He was also a member of a Government committee appointed to explore the possibility of formulating a mass media policy for Sri Lanka. He also worked as a consultant to several clients including Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), Media Ministry, Arthur C Clarke Centre for Modern Technologies, National Police Commission and the Central Environment Authority.
He was also an avid film aficionado and critic. The Sinhala movie industry honoured him on several occasions for his outstanding contribution to the Sinhala cinema. He was recognized for this role at the Sarasaviya Film Festival, Kala Lanka Foundation Awards ceremony and the OCIC Awards Ceremony.
A devout Buddhist, Ariyadasa has edited, translated and written a number of books on Buddhism. The books he compiled at the request of the Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre are still in demand among the reading public. Among his other Buddhist books are: Buddha’s Life in Murals; Vision of the Buddha; The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived; Life of Ven. Ananda Thera and Word of the Buddha which he co-authored with Ven. Weragoda Sarada Thera.
Be it a newspaper article or a book, Ariyadasa does thorough research on his subject before putting the pen down on paper. His hallmark is his simple language which has enabled many to understand even complex concepts with relative ease. Ariyadasa is not only known for his usage of simple language, but also for a rather simple lifestyle. In fact, he credits simple living for his longevity and active life along with a strict adherence to Buddhist tenets. Ariyadasa is a great asset to the world of journalism, which is undergoing vast and profound changes. His will be a guiding hand in these unchartered waters for many more years to come.