Iqbal Athas

Fearless Sri Lankan Journalist Iqbal Athas Passes Away – By Lawrence Machado

Lawrence Machado

One of Sri Lanka’s best journalists and international defence correspondents, Iqbal Athas, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, leaving a legacy of explosive stories and exclusives spanning several decades. He died aged 81, after a brief illness.

A fearless writer, Iqbal worked for several international media organisations, including CNN, UPI, and Worldwide Television News (WTN) and was Consulting Editor of the Sunday Times.

“Internationally renowned for his in-depth reporting on security and defence affairs, Athas earned widespread recognition for his controversial and influential articles on the wartime security situation, published in the Sunday Times,” the Daily Mirror said in its tribute.

During the height of the war between the Sri Lankan Government and the terrorist group, LTTE, Athas was threatened by the Government and its supporters for exposing controversial deals with intricate details in his highly-popular columns in the Sunday Times.

‘Country’s leading military correspondent’

In 2000, The New York Times described him as “the country’s leading military correspondent.” In 1994, Iqbal was honoured with the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists, in recognition of his courage and commitment to press freedom in the face of threats and adversity.

In 2007, he was awarded the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for his contribution to CNN’s coverage of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The prestigious prize recognises excellence in broadcast, documentary, and digital journalism.

Among the other awards Iqbal won were the Journalist of the Year 1998 and Columnist of the Year 2001 both awarded by the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka.

I first came to know Iqbal, the then Deputy Editor, when I joined the Sun Weekend newspapers in 1978, and he was very welcoming. In those days, we called our seniors sir or greeted them as Mr or Mrs. But when I called him Mr Iqbal on the first day, he said: “We are all journalists and we don’t call anyone Mr, Mrs or Sir.”

Wonderful Welcome to Journalism

It was a wonderful welcome to the world of journalism at the independent newspaper group, and though I left Sri Lanka in 1982, we kept in touch.

Iqbal’s desk and office at The Sun Weekend was always open to any of us who wanted help or advice. He was known for his amazing parties at his home where no expense was spared.

He was always well groomed and dressed in his famous safari suits (with sleeve pockets for his pens) with his trademark moustache and smile. He was the epitome of politeness even when he was very busy. He could be tough and direct when dealing with his team, but I found him fair.

The last time we connected was when I wished him on his birthday, September 1, 2025. We also met in Sydney some years ago at the home of a mutual friend, where we swapped tales and stories of our good ole days at The Sun Weekend.

Threatened but Unbowed

He was very much the same Iqbal we knew even though he had lived through harrowing days and nights where – like many independent media people of that time – his life had been threatened many times for his exposures.

During his visit, he told us of people coming with guns coming to his home and advising him to stop writing his defence columns. But Iqbal never relented and kept producing his columns which highlighted the controversial contracts, and deals plus mission successes and failures of both sides.

Rest in peace, Iqbal. Sri Lanka and the world of journalism will be poorer with your death. But your legacy will live on.

Iqbal Athas, Beloved son of late Sainudeen Marikkar Mohamed Athas and Dawlathul Jalaliya. Beloved Husband of A Athas, Father of Jasmin Athas(Germany), passed away on Tuesday, January 13.

Beloved Brother of late Hilmy Athas, Shiraz Athas(Dhargatown), Hassan Athas(Canada), Zaneetha Athas and Rihana Athas.

Beloved uncle of Shakila Nawas, Roshan Nawas, Faizeen Faizal, Fazreen Hassan, Fazly Faizal, Nuzly Athas, Nawshad Athas, Shamila Athas, Rizna Athas, Hisham Athas.

“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and indeed, to Him we shall return”

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