Humility and dedication were the virtues that marked this journalist and trusted President’s aide

Evans Cooray passed away in London on August 16, 2012. He and I were students at Holy Cross College, Kalutara. After the SSC (O/L), he moved to De Mazenod College, Kandana, for higher studies. As a student he was keenly interested in journalism and wrote for the Sinhala Roman Catholic newspaper, Gnanartha Pradeepaya. He later joined the Lake House and the Lankadeepa newspaper.

Some time in the ’60s, Evans Cooray joined the Government Information Department as a Press Officer. With the change of government in 1977, he was posted to the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Construction, when the late Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa was the Minister. Mr. Premadasa appreciated his good work, and Evans was invited to work for Mr. Premadasa when he became Prime Minister and later President.

I used to meet Evans quite often, as I was attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.

It is a known fact that the late President Premadasa started his day’s work at the Sucharitha at 4 a.m. Evans was present almost daily.

He had no fixed office hours or fixed time of arrival or departure. His sheer dedication and readiness to work long hours brought him in close contact with the late President. Evans became one of Mr. Premadasa’s most trusted colleagues, and was duly rewarded when he was made Senior Assistant Secretary – Information to the late President in the early Nineties.

On that fateful day, May 1, 1993, Evans stepped a few metres away from the crowd surrounding the President to answer a telephone call when the blast occurred. He escaped hurt. Indeed, it was a miraculous escape.

When the late Mr. D. B. Wijetunga took office as the next President, Evans was posted as the First Secretary – Information to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.

He continued to live in London with his family. He was a practising Catholic and led a simple life. His humility and friendly disposition brought him a large circle of devoted friends, here and abroad.

May he rest in peace.