Editors Guild mourns passing of Jatila Wellaboda

The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka expresses its deep sorrow at the sudden and premature passing away of Jatila Wellaboda, a former Secretary of The Guild and most recently, Consultant (News) at the Independent Television Network (ITN).

Mr. Wellaboda was 56 years at the time of his death on Jan.21.

A senior journalist who, at various times in his career, was Editor of the Lakbima (Daily edition) for 10 years, and the Irudina published on Sundays. He was also Editor of the websites Frontpage and Savana and recently, accepted an appointment at ITN, moving from print to the electronic media.

"Starting his journalistic career in 1984 as a sports reporter at the Divaina, Sinhala daily published by the Upali Newspapers, Mr. Wellaboda rose rapidly through the ranks of the profession over a period of three decades. He was a skilled journalist, with a nose for news and a flair for the use of the Sinhala language, which he wrote in a crisp and easily understandable style, filling many slots as newsman, analyst, commentator and editorialist," a statement from The Guild said.

The Ven. Kollupitiye Dhammarakkhitha Thera, chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara said in an anusasana preceding the pansakula ceremony that,

Mr. Wellaboda always tried to assist people and never did harm to anybody. Mr. Wellaboda had been a longstanding member of the Dayaka Sabha and the Development Society of the Kelaniya Temple. “A warm, friendly and unassuming personality with a pleasant demeanor, he took a keen interest in professional matters relating to journalists, and gave unstintingly of his time and skills to The Editors Guild. We shall all miss him, and offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife and two children. May he attain Nibbana," The Guild’s statement concluded.

(Please see Obituaries on ST2 page 2 for

funeral details)