VETERAN JOURNALIST D.B.S. JEYARAJ PASSES AWAY BY DIRK TISSERA

VETERAN JOURNALIST D.B.S. JEYARAJ PASSES AWAY – BY DIRK TISSERA

Just heard the sad news … That legendary veteran journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj has passed away in Canada on May 17, 2026 just four days short of his 72 birthday.

‘DBS’ as he was fondly known to his friends in the media, was one of the greats at the Island newspaper back in the early 1980s. The Island, the daily broadsheet which was launched in 1981 by Upali Newspapers, had within its ranks then, a star-studded editorial team headed by Editor Vijitha Yapa, Gamini Weerakoon, Ajith Samaranayake, DBS Jeyaraj and Lasantha Wickrematunge to name a few. The only surviving member of that dream team today is Vijitha Yapa.

I remember DBS with very fond memories from 1982 to 1984, (I was at the Daily Mirror/Sunday Times) and we both covered the parliament and cabinet briefing beats, when J. R. Jayewardene was Sri Lanka’s President.

Those were very special days and years when journalists were respected in Sri Lanka.

I also remember having great conversations and debates with DBS and Samaranayake at some very prominent watering holes in Fort, Colombo. DBS was always forceful and got his point across as the banter flowed effortlessly and sometimes was not so polite.

As decades flew by and we went about our merry ways, I met DBS a few times in Toronto. Whenever I asked him if I could use his stories in my publication, he never refused and gave me the green light.

DBS had a great nose for news scoops and established himself as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and widely read political commentators.

Born on May 21, 1954, Jeyaraj was educated at S. Thomas’ Preparatory School in Colombo and later at Jaffna College.

DBS was a seasoned and hard-core journalist with over five decades of experience under his journalistic belt. He worked for a number of high profile media outlets.

Journalism has lost another colossus. Prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.

May the turf lie gently over him.