State patronage for Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa's final rites
The funeral of senior journalist and media personality, Kala Keerthi Dr Edwin Ariyadasa will be held tomorrow (January 25) evening at the Borella Cemetery under state patronage. Dr. Ariyadasa passed away on Friday at the age of 98 after a prolonged illness.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (January 23), instructed officials to make arrangements to hold Dr Ariyadasa’s funeral under state patronage.
His remains were brought to the Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella last evening, where they will remain for the public to pay their final respects until the funeral tomorrow.
Born on December 3, 1922 at Unawatuna in Galle, Dr. Ariyadasa was educated at Buddhist Mixed School in Unawatuna and Mahinda College in Galle. He subsequently entered the University of Ceylon and graduated with a degree in the Sinhala and English languages in 1945.
After university, Dr. Ariyadasa took up teaching, going onto teach at his alma mater Mahinda College and then Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
He began his journalism career at Lake House in 1949, and was an editorial member of numerous Lake House publications including the Daily News, Dinamina, Sunday Observer, Silumina and Janatha. He also served as the Editor-in-Chief of Navaugaya.
He was instrumental in introducing the subject of Mass Communication to Sri Lankan universities, helping to formulate the syllabus for mass communication at the University of Kelaniya. He also played a key role in introducing media studies as a subject at the universities of Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura and the Open University of Sri Lanka.
He wrote extensively on world affairs in both Sinhala and English. He had bestowed with more than 300 awards during his lifetime and was also awarded the honorary title of ‘Kala Keerthi.’
Issuing a condolence message, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said Dr. Ariyadasa, was referred to as the “Walking Library” in Sri Lanka, and he had constantly strived to keep Sri Lankans updated on knowledge. The Prime Minister said the veteran media personality’s death was an irreplaceable loss to the country.